A UFC Lightweight Championship bout between the current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santoswelterweight winner and former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has been slated to headline this event. The pairing has previously been scheduled and cancelled for various reasons on four separate occasions (The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale, UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans, UFC 209 and UFC 223) over the last four years.

While not officially announced by the organization, a featherweight bout between Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar was expected to take place UFC 248. However, Stephens was removed from the card in mid-January with an injury. The pairing is expected to be left intact and rescheduled for this event