The event was headlined by a Middleweight Championship rematch between the championChris Weidman and former champion Anderson Silva. The two previously met at UFC 162, with Weidman winning via KO in the second round, earning the title. Co-featured was a Women's Bantamweight Championship bout between the current champion Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. The two met before under the banner in 2012 with Rousey winning via first round submission. This served as the coaches bout for The Ultimate Fighter 18. Initially, it was announced that Rousey would face top contender Cat Zingano at this event, after Zingano defeated Tate at. However, Zingano was pulled from the bout, and subsequently as coach for The Ultimate Fighter, after it was announced that she had suffered a knee injury and would be sidelined for several months. Tate was tabbed as the replacement and the rematch with Rousey was announced. Shane del Rosario was expected to face Guto Inocente at the event, but both men pulled out of the bout, citing injuries. On November 26, 2013, del Rosario had two sudden heart attacks and died on December 9, 2013. Diego Brandao weighed in seven pounds over the featherweight limit of 146 lbs. Brandao re-weighed and was 151.5, but was still fined 25% of his purse for missing weight.
Results
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $75,000 bonuses.
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.
Chris Weidman: $500,000 def. Anderson Silva: $600,000
Dustin Poirier: $46,000 def. Diego Brandao: $20,000^
Uriah Hall: $20,000 def. Chris Leben: $51,000
Michael Johnson: $36,000 def. Gleison Tibau: $39,000
Dennis Siver: $66,000 def. Manvel Gamburyan: $25,000
John Howard: $32,000 def. Siyar Bahadurzada: $17,000
William Macario: $20,000 def. Bobby Voelker: $12,000
Robert Peralta: $24,000 def. Estevan Payan: $10,000
^ Although not recognized on the official paysheet, Brandao was fined 25% of his base pay for missing weight for the fight, half of that money went to NSAC and half to Poirier.
