The event is headlined by a middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former WEC & Strikeforce Welterweight champion Nick Diaz. It's Silva's first fight since his gruesome leg injury at UFC 168. A flyweight bout between Ian McCall and John Lineker was originally booked for UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. St. Preux. However, the bout was canceled on the day of the event as McCall was stricken with a blood infection. The fight was later rescheduled for this event.