The event was originally planned to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between the champion at the time Jon Jones and challenger Alexander Gustafsson targeted as the event headliner. However, that bout was pushed back a month and scheduled to headline UFC 178. A Bantamweight Championship rematch between current champion T.J. Dillashaw and former champion Renan Barão was expected to headline this show. Their first fight, contested at UFC 173, ended in a fifth round TKO victory for Dillashaw. However, the day of the weigh ins, Barão had to be admitted to the hospital as a result of his attempts to cut weight. Dillashaw faced UFC newcomer Joe Soto in the main event. Subsequently, Soto's opponent, Anthony Birchak, was removed from the card entirely. Demetrious Johnson was expected to defend his Flyweight Championship against Chris Cariaso in the co-main event. However, on August 12, it was announced that bout would be moved to headline UFC 178 after Jon Jones against Daniel Cormier was delayed due to injury. As a result of the cancellation of UFC 176, bouts between Danny Castillo vs. Tony Ferguson, Lorenz Larkin vs. Derek Brunson and Bethe Correia vs. Shayna Baszler were rescheduled for this event. A heavyweight matchup between Ruslan Magomedov and Richard Odoms was official for this event. However on August 18, Odoms was forced to withdraw and the match was cancelled. Justin Edwards was expected to face Yancy Medeiros at the event. However, Edwards pulled out of the event in the days leading up to the event citing an injury and was replaced by newcomer Damon Jackson. Scott Jorgensen was expected to face Henry Cejudo at the event. However, Cejudo pulled out of the bout on the day of the weigh ins due to complications trying to cut weight. Due to the many unexpected changes, Joe Rogan began the event's weigh ins show by introducing the crowd to "the haunted UFC card". Due to several last minute cancellations, the event took place with only eight bouts on the card, making it the smallestUFC PPV event, since UFC 72 in 2007.
Results
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:
Performance of the Night: T.J. Dillashaw and Yancy Medeiros
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the UFC and also do not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.
T.J. Dillashaw: $100,000 def. Joe Soto: $20,000
Tony Ferguson: $40,000 def. Danny Castillo: $36,000
Anthony Hamilton: $16,000 def. Ruan Potts: $10,000
Chris Wade: $16,000 def. Cain Carrizosa: $8,000
Although not included on the CSAC's initial report, Scott Jorgensen and Anthony Birchak were paid a show purse and win bonus after their respective bouts were scrapped prior to the weigh-ins. As a result of their actions, Renan Barão and Henry Cejudo were not compensated.
