section_path: Background
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paragraph_text: Background
  
  A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion (also former UFC Middleweight Champion and former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion) Alex Pereira and former title challenger Magomed Ankalaev headlined the event.
  
  A five-round lightweight bout between former interim UFC Lightweight Champion (also former WSOF Lightweight Champion) Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker was expected to serve as the co-headliner. However, Hooker had to withdraw from the bout due to a hand injury. He was replaced by Rafael Fiziev in what became a three-round bout. They previously met at UFC 286 in March 2023 when Gaethje won by majority decision.
  
  A heavyweight bout between Jhonata Diniz and Vitor Petrino was expected to take place at the event. However, Petrino was forced to withdraw from the fight due to lateral epicondylitis in both elbows, so the bout was removed from the card.
  
  A heavyweight bout between former interim UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Curtis Blaydes and promotional newcomer Rizvan Kuniev was scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song. However, the bout was moved to this event for unknown reasons. In turn, their bout was cancelled a few hours before the event started as Blaydes suffered from an undisclosed illness.
  
  A bantamweight bout between Chris Gutiérrez and undefeated prospect Jean Matsumoto was scheduled for this event. However, Matsumoto was withdrawn from this event in order to serve as a replacement fighter against Rob Font at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song two weeks prior. He was replaced by John Castañeda in a featherweight bout. In turn, the pairing was scrapped hours before taking place as Castañeda suffered an undisclosed illness.
  
  Bruno Gustavo da Silva and Joshua Van were expected to meet in a flyweight bout on the preliminary card. However on February 17, Silva pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Road to UFC Season 2 flyweight winner Rei Tsuruya. This was the first ever UFC bout to feature two fighters born in the 2000s.
  
  During the event's broadcast, former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler was announced as the next "modern wing" UFC Hall of Fame inductee during International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas this June. In 2023, Lawler was inducted to the "fight wing" of the Hall of Fame for his title defense against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189.
  
  A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion (also former UFC Middleweight Champion and former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion) Alex Pereira and former title challenger Magomed Ankalaev headlined the event.
  
  A five-round lightweight bout between former interim UFC Lightweight Champion (also former WSOF Lightweight Champion) Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker was expected to serve as the co-headliner. However, Hooker had to withdraw from the bout due to a hand injury. He was replaced by Rafael Fiziev in what became a three-round bout. They previously met at UFC 286 in March 2023 when Gaethje won by majority decision.
  
  A heavyweight bout between Jhonata Diniz and Vitor Petrino was expected to take place at the event. However, Petrino was forced to withdraw from the fight due to lateral epicondylitis in both elbows, so the bout was removed from the card.
  
  A heavyweight bout between former interim UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Curtis Blaydes and promotional newcomer Rizvan Kuniev was scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song. However, the bout was moved to this event for unknown reasons. In turn, their bout was cancelled a few hours before the event started as Blaydes suffered from an undisclosed illness.
  
  A bantamweight bout between Chris Gutiérrez and undefeated prospect Jean Matsumoto was scheduled for this event. However, Matsumoto was withdrawn from this event in order to serve as a replacement fighter against Rob Font at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song two weeks prior. He was replaced by John Castañeda in a featherweight bout. In turn, the pairing was scrapped hours before taking place as Castañeda suffered an undisclosed illness.
  
  Bruno Gustavo da Silva and Joshua Van were expected to meet in a flyweight bout on the preliminary card. However on February 17, Silva pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Road to UFC Season 2 flyweight winner Rei Tsuruya. This was the first ever UFC bout to feature two fighters born in the 2000s.
  
  During the event's broadcast, former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler was announced as the next "modern wing" UFC Hall of Fame inductee during International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas this June. In 2023, Lawler was inducted to the "fight wing" of the Hall of Fame for his title defense against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189.