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UFC 173 takes place Saturday, May 24th, in Las Vegas, Nevada and features a bantamweight title fight between Renan Barão and TJ Dillashaw in the main event.
Official fight card
Main Card Weight class Method Round Time Notes Bantamweight Renan Barao vs TJ Dillashaw [a] Light Heavyweight Dan Henderson vs Daniel Cormier [b] Welterweight Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Ellenberger Bantamweight Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera Lightweight Jamie Varner vs. James Krause Preliminary card (Fox Sports 1) Lightweight Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo Lightweight Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno Bantamweight Chris Holdsworth vs. Chico Camus Lightweight Al Iaquinta vs. Mitch Clarke Preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass) Lightweight Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel Featherweight Sam Sicilia vs. Aaron Phillips Welterweight David Michaud vs. Li JingLiang
Background
A Middleweight Championship bout between the current champion Chris Weidman and number one contender Vitor Belfort was scheduled to headline this event.[1] However, on February 27, the Nevada State Athletic Commission officially banned testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) from combat sports. Belfort, who has admitted to using such therapy, was forced to withdraw from the bout and stated, "Given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May, I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time."
The main event was quickly changed as former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida agreed to step in to face Weidman for the title in the main event. However, on March 24, the UFC announced that Weidman had suffered a knee injury and that a new headline bout would be found. The Weidman title defense against Machida was moved to July's UFC 175.[2][3]
After the announcement that Weidman/Machida bout had been moved, a Bantamweight Championship bout between Renan Barão and Raphael Assunção was targeted as the event headliner. However, Assunção opted to decline the bout as a rib injury sustained in his last bout at UFC 170 had not healed enough to resume the proper training in advance of the event.[4] Barão will now face T.J. Dillashaw in the main event.[5] As a result, Dillashaw's original opponent at the event, Takeya Mizugaki, will face Francisco Rivera.[6]
The originally scheduled co-main event was Junior dos Santos against Stipe Miocic.[7] However, that bout was moved and will take place a week later on May 31, 2014 at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale.[8] Subsequently, the bout between Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier, briefly linked to UFC 175[9] was moved up to this event to bolster the card.[10]
The coaches bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 participants Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva was briefly linked to this event. However, the fight was moved twice - first being on May 31, 2014 at The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Finale,[11] but now it will be contested on July 5, 2014 at UFC 175.[12]
A lightweight bout between Yves Edwards and Piotr Hallman was expected to take place at this event. However, the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night 42.[13]
Chris Holdsworth was expected to face Kyung Ho Kang at the event. However, Kang pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Chico Camus.[14]
Doo Ho Choi was expected to make his promotional debut at the event against Sam Sicilia. However, Choi was forced out of the bout with an injury,[15] and was replaced by UFC newcomer Aaron Phillips.[16]
Danny Mitchell was expected to face promotional newcomer Li Jingliang. However, Mitchell pulled out of the bout with an injury.[17] Replacing Mitchell will be The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson cast member David Michaud.[18]
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