While 2012 gave us a real bad taste when it came to cards being turned upside down, 2014 made it clear that nothing was safe. Main events were mixed up with 24 hours left to go. Fighters went gone down with a plethora of problems, with broken bones, torn ligaments, and illnesses that shackle the body. And what was a barista doing in a co-main event of a PPV, anyway? For a lot of events this year, the most commonly spoken word heard in bars and forums alike seemed to be “Who?” An entire event went kaput, and you couldn’t even blame Jon Jones for it!
The Complete List of All UFC Injuries and Card Changes in 2014
Which, come to think of it, raises a solid question. Is there anything that could explain just why these injuries are occurring more often than before? Are fighters just more mindful of keeping their body healthy than in the past? What about PEDs? Could the stricter drug testing have anything to do with it? Or maybe this is all nonsense, and the sheer number of events this year–46 in total–has given us the wrong impression of the averages?
In any case, it would be worth it to look at just how many changes were made to fight cards this year. Not just how many, but when, where, to who, and, if possible, why.
Here goes with a very, very huge list. It was constructed to document, in one place, every single change that was made to each UFC fight card in 2014.
(The immediate following is just an description of how this list was made, so if you’re bored with long-winded explanations, feel free to skip over it!)
Each event has been listed in chronological order, from January to December (so the numbers for the November and December events are still tentative, hence the title of this article). I intend for this list to be a record of each card change in the year 2014, so injuries that occurred in 2013 and affected cards in 2014 are counted. Similarly, injuries that occurred in 2014 and will affect cards in 2015 will not be counted.
Each event’s changes will be split between the main card and prelims, so as to better illustrate how each change would have affected the status of a card. Otherwise, changes are listed by the chronological order of the dates they occurred (e.g., for UFC 178 Khabib Nurmagomedov was injured before Alexander Gustafsson was, so there The Eagle is listed before The Mauler).
Now for completionist’s sake, the list not only includes changes due to injuries, but changes for other reasons, like drug test failures, arrests, contractual riffraff, and the UFC’s own willingness to move pieces around after the board has been set. To better reflect the difference between the number of changes due to injury and number of changes total, I have put both at the end of each event. I’ve also tried to make some notes for each event, highlighting little tidbits that you may either find interesting or terribly boring.
A change is considered to be injury-related in two ways: 1) one or both of the fighters are injured (duh), and 2) a fighter is moved from their original bout in order to replace an injured fighter in another bout. AKA, a direct change and an indirect change. This is why I’m counting the cancellation of the UFC 176 as not one change, but eleven separate changes for each bout that was originally set for that card, since it all stemmed from one injury.
Final Facts:
- >In 2014, there were 153 changes to cards because of injury or illness, either directly or indirectly. I don’t know exactly what the 2012 number was, but most approximations I’ve seen run around 100.
- >Depending on how cynical you are, this may be a fun fact or the saddest: in 2014, there were only three events (out of 46) that did not go through any changes, injuries or otherwise, whatsoever: the TUF 19 Finale, UFC Fight Night 57, and the TUF 20 Finale.
- >There was a distinct trend in the signing of new fighters to serve as replacements: in 2014, The UFC signed 54 fighters to fill in empty spots that came about from other fighters dropping out. A few had fought for the UFC before and so they were re-signed (e.g., Charlie Brenneman, Tim Means), but the majority of the signees were fresh to the UFC. The most notable would probably be Patrick Cummins, filling in for Rashad Evans and fighting against Daniel Cormier at UFC 170.
January
UFC Fight Night 34: Saffiedine vs Lim
Jan 4, 2014
Marina Bay Sands in Marina Bay, Singapore
Main Card
- Jake Ellenberger vs Tarec Saffiedine (main event). On Nov 29, 2013, Ellenberger withdrew due to injury (hamstring). Hyun Gyu Lim was announced as the replacement.
- Hyun Gyu Lim vs Kiichi Kunimoto. When Hyun Gyu Lim was moved up to replace Ellenberger against Saffiedine, Luiz Dutra Jr. was signed as the replacement to fight Kunimoto.
- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Hacran Dias (co-main event). On Nov 30, 2013, Dias withdrew due to requiring surgery on his hands. On Dec 4, 2014, Sean Soriano was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Will Chope vs Bekbulat Magomedov. However, it was soon revealed after the matchup was announced that Magomedov still had to fulfill his contract with the China-based fighting promotion RUFF. After initially confirming that the fight will still go ahead as planned, the UFC ended up replacing Magomedov with Max Holloway on Nov 21, 2013.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >As of October 2014, Bekbulat Magomedov is still unsigned by the UFC, instead fighting for different promotions based in Europe.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Luiz Dutra Jr. and Sean Soriano.
UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs Philippou
Jan 15, 2014
The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Thiago Silva vs Ovince St. Preux (co-main event). On Nov 21, 2013, the fight was scrapped just one day after it was announced due to Silva suffering an injury (undisclosed).
Prelims
- Jason High vs Adlan Amagov. On Dec 20, 2013, Amagov withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Beneil Dariush was announced as the replacement.
- Jason High vs Beneil Dariush. On Jan 1, 2013, High withdrew due to surgery for a ruptured spleen. Charlie Brenneman was re-signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 3
Notes:
- >Thiago Silva vs Ovince St. Preux was eventually rescheduled for UFC 171 in April.
- >Adlan Amagov has yet to fight again, and currently there is nothing booked for the Chechen fighter.
- >Charlie Brenneman made his return to the UFC after being cut in 2012.
UFC on Fox 10: Henderson vs Thomson
Jan 25, 2014
United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Jared Rosholt vs Oleksiy Oliynyk. On Jan 8, 2014, Oliynyk withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). No replacement was made and the fight was removed from the card.
- Pascal Krauss vs Adam Khaliev. On Jan 11, 2014, the UFC announced that both fighters suffered injuries and had to withdraw. As a result, the bout was cancelled entirely.
- As a response to this second cancellation, on Jan 13, 2014 the UFC announced the match-up of George Sullivan vs Mike Rhodes to complete the card.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 3
Notes:
- >Pascal Krauss has yet to fight in 2014, and currently there is nothing booked for the German fighter.
- >The UFC signed both George Sullivan and Mike Rhodes to make the replacement bout.
February
UFC 169: Barão vs Faber II
Feb 1, 2014
Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira (main event; Light Heavyweight Championship). The UFC confirmed the fight on Oct 3, 2013. However, on Oct 7, 2013, UFC President Dana White said the fight was never confirmed after all, and the announcement was a mistake by the UFC’s public relations team. On Nov 5, 2013, it was announced that Renan Barão vs Dominick Cruz would be the actual main event.
- Bobby Green vs Abel Trujillo. On Dec 31, 2013, it was announced that Green had to withdraw for undisclosed reasons. Jamie Varner was announced as the replacement.
- Dominick Cruz vs Renan Barão (main event; Bantamweight Championship). On Jan 6, 2014, Cruz withdrew due to injury (torn groin). Urijah Faber was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Chris Cariaso vs Kyoji Horiguchi. On Jan 15, 2014, Horiguchi withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Danny Martinez was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira would eventually happen in April at UFC 172.
- >With the injury, Dominick Cruz was stripped of the bantamweight title, and Renan Barão was promoted to undisputed champion.
UFC Fight Night 36: Machida vs Mousasi
Feb 15, 2014
Arena Jaraguá in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil
Main Card
- Erick Silva vs Nate Loughran. On Jan 4, 2014, Loughran withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On Jan 7, 2014, Takenori Sato was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Thiago Tavares vs Zubaira Tuhugov. On Feb 6 2014, Tavares withdrew due to injury (rib). Douglas Silva de Andrade was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >After suffering more injuries, Loughran was released from the UFC without fighting once. This marked Loughran’s second release from the promotion; Loughran asked to be released following a loss in 2008.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Takenori Sato and Douglas Silva de Andrade.
UFC 170: Rousey vs McMann
Feb 22, 2014
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira (main event; Light Heavyweight Championship). On Nov 13, 2013, the UFC announced the matchup to take place at UFC 170. However, one day later Dana White revealed that Jon Jones pulled out of the bout. No reason was given, though White said it was not due to injury. On Dec 29, 2013, it was announced that Ronda Rousey vs Sara McMann would be the new main event.
- Gilbert Melendez vs Khabib Nurmagomedov. On Dec 28, 2013, the UFC confirmed the bout at UFC 168’s post-fight press conference. However, on Jan 3, 2014, Dana White told media that the fight was not happening for reasons not disclosed, and Melendez was taken off the card. The UFC sought to find another opponent for Nurmagomedov, but could not and so Nurmagomedov was also removed from the card.
- Daniel Cormier vs Rashad Evans (co-main event). On Feb 12, 2014, Evans withdrew due to injury (leg). On Feb 13, 2014, the UFC announced they had signed Patrick Cummins as the replacement.
Prelims
- Bryan Caraway vs Lucas Martins. On Jan 29, 2014, Caraway withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Aljamain Sterling was signed as the replacement.
- Raphael Assunção vs Francisco Rivera. On Feb 3, 2014, Rivera withdrew due to injury (broken hand). On Feb 9, 2014, the UFC announced they had signed Pedro Munhoz as the replacement.
- Lucas Martins vs Aljamain Sterling. On Feb 11, 2014, Martins withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Cody Gibson was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 6
Notes:
- >Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira was previously announced for UFC 169. The matchup would eventually happen in April at UFC 172.
- >It was later alluded that the Melendez vs Nurmagomedov matchup failed to happen because of a contract dispute between Melendez and the UFC.
- >At one point Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans was set as the main event, with Rousey vs. McMann as co-main, but they switched eventually.
- >The UFC signed four fighters to serve as replacements: Aljamain Sterling, Pedro Munhoz, Cody Gibson and Patrick Cummins.
March
The Ultimate Fighter China Finale: Kim vs Hathaway
Mar 1, 2014
CotaiArena in Macau, China
Main Card
- Guangyou Ning vs Jianping Yang (TUF China featherweight final). On Feb 23, 2014, Jianping Yang withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). As a result, the bout was scratched entirely.
Prelims
- Zak Cummings vs Alberto Mina. On Feb 28, 2014, it was revealed that Cummings would be coming in eight pounds over the welterweight limit of 170. Mina refused a 178-pound catchweight bout, and so the bout was scratched entirely.
Changes due to Injury: 1
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >When the Yang injury was announced, it was also said that the bout between Nam Phan and Vaughan Lee would be moved up to the main card. However, this did not happen.
- >Guangyou Ning vs Jianping Yang ended up happening in August at UFC Fight Night 48: Bisping vs Le.
UFC Fight Night 37: Gustafsson vs Manuwa
March 8, 2014
The O2 Arena in London, England
Main Card
- Alexander Gustafsson vs Antônio Rogério Nogueira (main event). The bout was announced on Oct 26, 2013. However, on Oct 31, 2013 it was announced that Nogueira had withdrawn due to injury (back). On Nov 5, 2013, Jimi Manuwa was announced as the replacement.
- Ross Pearson vs Melvin Guillard (co-main event). On Jan 23, 2014, Pearson withdrew due to injury (knee). Michael Johnson was announced as the replacement.
- Ian McCall vs Brad Pickett. On Feb 13, 2014, McCall withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On Feb 20, 2014, Neil Seery was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Roland Delorme vs Davey Grant. On Mar 7, 2014, Grant withdrew due to injury (torn meniscus). The bout was scratched entirely.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >Curiously, on Nov 10, 2013, Dana White revealed that Nogueira, in fact, was never reached to confirm the matchup with Gustafsson. White blamed Nogueira anyway for not staying healthy.
- >Ian McCall vs Brad Pickett later took place in July at UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Brandão.
- >Davey Grant has yet to fight in 2014, and currently there is nothing booked for the English fighter.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Neil Seery.
UFC 171: Hendricks vs Lawler
Mar 15, 2014
American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira (main event; Light Heavyweight Championship). On Dec 4, 2013, the UFC announced the matchup to take place at UFC 171. When Hendricks vs Lawler was also announced for the event on Dec 13, 2013, Dana White initially confirmed that Jones vs Teixeira was still going to happen, but later said the fight would be moved to UFC 172 in April. It was implied that Jones needed more time to recover.
- Thiago Silva vs Ovince St. Preux. On Feb 6, 2014, Silva was arrested for multiple counts of aggravated assault. The following day, Silva was released by the UFC, and Nikita Krylov was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Will Campuzano vs Darrell Montague. On Jan 28, 2014, Montague withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Justin Scoggins was announced as the replacement.
- Julianna Peña vs Jéssica Andrade. On Jan 29, 2014, Peña withdrew due to injury (ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus in right knee). Raquel Pennington was announced as the replacement.
- Tor Troéng vs Bubba McDaniel. On Mar 3, 2014, Troéng withdrew due to injury (shoulder). Sean Strickland was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira was previously announced for UFC 169 and 170. The matchup would eventually happen in April at UFC 172.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Sean Strickland.
UFC Fight Night 38: Shogun vs Henderson 2
Mar 23, 2014
Ginásio Nélio Dias in Natal, Brazil
Main Card
- Gleison Tibau vs Mairbek Taisumov. On Feb 19, 2014, Tibau withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Michel Prazeres was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Diego Brandão vs Will Chope. On Mar 22, 2014, the bout was cancelled after it was revealed that Chope was discharged from the military for assaulting and threatening his wife. Both fighters had already weighed in.
Changes due to Injury: 1
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >On Mar 23, 2014, Chope was released by the UFC.
April
UFC Fight Night 39: Nogueira vs Nelson
Apr 11, 2014
du Arena in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Dustin Ortiz vs Alptekin Özkiliç. On Apr 3, 2014, Özkiliç withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Due to the lateness of the injury, no replacement was sought and the bout was cancelled entirely.
- Chris Camozzi vs Andrew Craig. On April 10, 2014, just a few hours before the weigh-ins, Craig withdrew due to illness. No replacement was sought and the bout was cancelled entirely.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >Sorry, I have nothing to say about this card! Roy Nelson has a nice beard, I guess.
The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs Kennedy
Apr 16, 2014
Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Canada
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Ryan Jimmo vs Steve Bossé. On Mar 5, 2014, Bossé withdrew due to injury (shoulder). On Mar 11, 2014, Sean O’Connell was signed as the replacement.
- Sarah Kaufman vs Shayna Baszler. On April 1, 2014, Baszler withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Amanda Nunes was announced as the replacement.
- Evan Dunham vs Mark Bocek. On April 7, 2014, Dunham withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). One day later, Mike De La Torre was signed as the replacement.
- Sarah Kaufman vs Amanda Nunes. On April 8, 2014, Nunes withdrew due to injury (dislocated thumb). Leslie Smith was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >Alex Caceres vs Érik Pérez was rumoured for this event, but nothing was ever confirmed.
- >Amanda Nunes was originally set to face Alexis Dufresne at UFC on Fox 11, but the latter withdrew due to injury.
- >On Mar 19, 2014, Steve Bossé announced his retirement due to having no interest in fighting anymore.
- >The UFC signed three fighters to serve as replacements: Sean O’Connell, Mike De La Torre, and Leslie Smith.
UFC on Fox 11: Werdum vs Browne
Apr 19, 2014
Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Estevan Payan vs Sean Soriano. On Feb 26, 2014, Soriano withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Mike Brown was announced as the replacement.
- Jordan Mein vs Santiago Ponzinibbio. On Feb 27, 2014 Ponzinibbio was removed from the card with no reason given. Hernani Perpetuo was announced as the replacement.
- Amanda Nunes vs Alexis Dufresne. On Apr 3, 2014, Dufresne withdrew due to injury (rib). The bout was scratched after Nunes was moved to the TUF Nations finale to face Sarah Kaufman.
- Mike Brown vs Estevan Payan. On Apr 4, 2014, Brown withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Alex White was announced as the replacement.
- Caio Magalhães vs Josh Samman. On Apr 8, 2014, Samman withdrew due to injury. One day later, Luke Zachrich was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Alex White and Luke Zachrich.
UFC 172: Jones vs Teixeira
Apr 26, 2014
Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Tarec Saffiedine vs Jake Ellenberger. On Mar 28, 2014, Saffiedine withdrew due to injury (cervical spine). The bout was scratched after Ellenberger was moved to face Robbie Lawler at UFC 173.
- Jim Miller vs Bobby Green. On Apr 19, 2014, Green withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Yancy Medeiros was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Isaac Vallie-Flagg vs Danny Castillo. On Mar 4, 2014, the UFC pulled Castillo from the bout and replaced him with Takanori Gomi. Castillo was later rebooked to fight Charlie Brenneman on the same card.
- Yancy Medeiros vs Joe Ellenberger. Medeiros was moved up to the main card to replace Green against Miller. On Apr 20, 2014, Vagner Rocha was re-signed as the replacement.
- Joe Ellenberger vs Vagner Rocha. On Apr 23, 2014, Rocha withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). No suitable replacement could be found in time and the bout was scratched.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >Jon Jones vs Glover Teixeira was previously announced for UFC 169, 170 and 171.
- >As a result of the Ellenberger vs. Rocha fight being taken off the card, the Danny Castillo vs Charlie Brenneman fight was moved from the Fight Pass portion to the Fox prelims.
- >Vagner Rocha was set to return to the UFC after being cut in 2012. Rocha is now expected to fight Jake Matthews in November at UFC Fight 55: Rockhold vs Bisping.
May
UFC Fight Night 40: Brown vs Silva
May 10, 2014
U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Neil Magny vs William Macario. On Apr 10, 2014, Macario was removed from the card with no reason given. Tim Means was re-signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Yan Cabral vs Alexander Yakovlev. On Apr 9, 2014, Yakovlev was pulled from the bout to replace Mike Pierce against Demian Maia at the TUF Brazil 3 Finale. One day later, Zak Cummings was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 1
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >Neil Magny vs William Macario was later scheduled again to take place at UFC 179.
- >Tim Means made his return to the UFC after being cut in 2013.
UFC 173: Barão vs Dillashaw
May 24, 2014
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Chael Sonnen vs Wanderlei Silva (co-main event). On Feb 2, 2014, Dana White announced the bout as official for UFC 173. However, it was later announced that the bout would be moved to be the main event of the TUF Brazil 3 Finale.
- Chris Weidman vs Vitor Belfort (main event; Middleweight Championship). On Feb 27, Belfort withdrew due to the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s ban of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which Belfort had been using. Lyoto Machida was announced as the replacement.
- Chris Weidman vs Lyoto Machida (main event; Middleweight Championship). On Mar 24, Weidman withdrew due to injury (knee). No replacement was sought and the bout was cancelled. As a response to the cancellation of the main event, on Mar 27, 2014 the UFC announced the matchup of Renan Barão vs T.J. Dillashaw for the new main event.
- T.J. Dillashaw vs Takeya Mizugaki. Dillashaw was moved up to the main event to face Barão. On Mar 28, 2014, the UFC announced Francisco Rivera as a replacement.
- Junior dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic (co-main event). On Apr 7, 2014, this bout was moved to be the main event of the TUF Brazil 3 Finale after the card’s original headliner, Sonnen vs Silva, was moved to UFC 175. As a response to the co-main event moving, on Apr 23, 2014 the UFC announced Daniel Cormier vs Dan Henderson for the new co-main event.
Prelims
- Yves Edwards vs Piotr Hallman. On Apr 1, 2014, the UFC moved the fight to UFC Fight Night 43: Henderson vs Khabilov due to UFC 173 having too many bouts planned.
- Chris Holdsworth vs Kyung Ho Kang. On Apr 5, 2014, Kyung Ho Kang withdrew due to a reason not disclosed. Chico Camus was announced as the replacement.
- Sam Sicilia vs Doo Ho Choi. On April 20, 2014, Doo Ho Choi withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On May 4, 2014, Aaron Phillips was signed as the replacement.
- Danny Mitchell vs Li Jingliang. On May 1, 2014, Mitchell withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). David Michaud was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 9
Notes:
- >Raphael Assunção was very briefly penciled in against Renan Barão, but he did not feel he was healthy enough to step in, so the title shot was instead given to T.J. Dillashaw.
- >Jake Ellenberger was pulled from UFC 172 to fight Robbie Lawler at this event.
- >Doo Ho Choi has yet to fight in 2014, but has been scheduled against Juan Manuel Puig in November at UFC Fight Night 57: Edgar vs Swanson.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Aaron Phillips and David Michaud.
UFC Fight Night 41: Muñoz vs Mousasi
May 31, 2014
O2 World in Berlin, Germany
Main Card
- Thiago Tavares vs Tom Niinimäki. On May 14, 2014, Tavares withdrew due to injury (thigh). One day later, Niklas Bäckström was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
No changes.
Changes due to Injury: 1
Total Changes to Card: 1
Notes:
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Niklas Bäckström.
The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale: Miocic vs Maldonado
May 31, 2014
Ginásio do Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil
Main Card
- Chael Sonnen vs Wanderlei Silva (main event). On Apr 7, 2014, the bout was moved to UFC 175. No exact reason was given. As a response, the matchup of Junior dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic was moved from UFC 173 to be the new main event.
- Demian Maia vs Mike Pierce. On April 7, 2014, Pierce withdrew due to injury (hand). Alexander Yakovlev was announced as the replacement.
- Junior Dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic (main event). On May 5, 2014, dos Santos withdrew due to injury (hand). One day later, Fábio Maldonado was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Wilson Reis vs Pedro Munhoz. On April 15, 2014, the UFC announced instead that Munhoz would face Matt Hobar. The reason for Reis being removed is unknown.
- Diego Brandão vs Brian Ortega. On May 19, 2014, Brandão withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Due to the injury occurring so close to the event, no replacement was sought and the bout was scratched entirely.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >Both match-ups of Chael Sonnen vs Wanderlei Silva and Junior Dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic were originally scheduled for UFC 173.
- >The match-up of Junior dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic is now taking place in December as the main event of UFC on Fox 13.
- >Alexander Yakovlev was pulled from his fight with Yan Cabral earlier in May at UFC Fight Night 40 in order to face Maia.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Matt Hobar.
June
UFC Fight Night 42: Henderson vs Khabilov
Jun 7, 2014
Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Jon Tuck vs Yosdenis Cedeno. On May 7, 2014, Cedeno withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Jake Lindsey was signed as the replacement.
- Patrick Cummins vs Francimar Barroso. On May 16, 2014, Barroso withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On May 20, 2014, Roger Narvaez was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >The match-up of Yves Edwards vs Piotr Hallman was originally set for UFC 173, but was moved to this card after it was determined that 173 had too many bouts.
- >Francimar Barroso has yet to fight in 2014, but has been scheduled to fight Ovince St. Preux at UFC Fight Night 56 in November.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Jake Lindsey and Roger Narvaez.
UFC 174: Johnson vs Bagautinov
Jun 14, 2014
Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Germaine de Randamie vs Milana Dudieva. On May 27, 2014, de Randamie withdrew due to visa complications. On May 30, 2014, Valérie Létourneau was signed as the replacement.
- Milana Dudieva vs Valérie Létourneau. On Jun 6, 2014, Dudieva withdrew for an unknown reason. Elizabeth Phillips was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 0
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >Germaine de Randamie has yet to fight in 2014, and currently there is nothing booked for the Dutch fighter.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Valérie Létourneau and Elizabeth Phillips.
UFC Fight Night 43: Te Huna vs Marquardt
Jun 28, 2014
Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Anthony Perosh vs Gian Villante. On May 13, 2014, Perosh withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Sean O’Connell was announced as the replacement.
- Claudio Henrique da Silva vs Richard Walsh. However, on May 25, 2014, it was announced that Neil Magny would now be facing da Silva. The reason for Walsh being removed is unknown.
- Claudio Henrique da Silva vs Neil Magny. On May 28, 2014, da Silva withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Rodrigo de Lima was signed as the replacement.
- Richie Vaculik vs Jon Delos Reyes. On Jun 2, 2014, Delos Reyes withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Roldan Sangcha-an was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Rodrigo de Lima and Roldan Sangcha-an.
UFC Fight Night 44: Swanson vs Stephens
Jun 28, 2014
AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Myles Jury vs Abel Trujillo. On Jun 6, 2014, Jury withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Frank Trevino was moved from his bout with Joe Ellenberger in the prelims to be the replacement.
- Abel Trujillo vs Frank Trevino. On Jun 6, 2014, Trevino also withdrew due to injury (undisclosed) right after the announcement that he was to face Abel Trujillo. As a result, on Jun 8, 2014, the bout was scratched and Trujillo was removed from the card.
Prelims
- Rani Yahya vs Johnny Bedford. On May 20, 2014, Yahya withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Cody Gibson was announced as the replacement.
- Frank Trevino vs Joe Ellenberger. On Jun 6, 2014, Trevino was moved up to the main card to replace Myles Jury against Abel Trujillo. Johnny Case was signed as the replacement.
- Sean Spencer vs Luiz Dutra Jr. On Jun 10, 2014, Dutra Jr. withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). No replacement could be found and the fight was removed entirely.
- Joe Ellenberger vs Johnny Case. On Jun 11, 2014, Case withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). One day later, the Bryan Barberena was signed as the replacement.
- Joe Ellenberger vs Bryan Barberena. On Jun 18, 2014, Barberena withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). James Moontasri was signed as the replacement.
- Ray Borg vs Ryan Benoit. On Jun 18, 2014, Benoit withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Shane Howell was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 8
Total Changes to Card: 8
Notes:
- >The matchup of Rani Yahya vs Johnny Bedford was re-scheduled for UFC Fight Night 51 in September.
- >The matchup of Joe Ellenberger vs Bryan Barberena has been scheduled again for UFC on Fox 13 in December.
- >Joe Ellenberger finally made his debut against James Moontasri after seeing five of his opponents drop out: Yancy Medeiros and Vagner Rocha at UFC 172, and Frank Trevino, Johnny Case, and Bryan Barberena on this card.
- >The UFC signed four fighters to serve as replacements: Johnny Case, Bryan Barberena, James Moontasri and Shane Howell.
July
UFC 175: Weidman vs Machida
Jul 5, 2014
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Daniel Cormier vs Daniel Henderson. On Apr 23, 2014, the bout was moved to UFC 173 in order to bolster that card.
- Chael Sonnen vs Wanderlei Silva. On May 28, 2014, Silva was removed from the bout after failing to apply for a licence to fight in Nevada and refusing to undergo a random drug test. Vitor Belfort was announced as the replacement.
- Chael Sonnen vs Vitor Belfort. On Jun 10, 2014, Sonnen was removed from the bout after failing a random drug test. A replacement was sought but could not be found, and so the bout was scrapped and Belfort was removed from the card.
- Stefan Struve vs Matt Mitrione. While the event was taking place, Struve nearly fainted in the dressing room, and the bout was scratched out of concern for Struve’s health.
Prelims
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Ildemar Alcântara. On Jun 4, 2014, Ponzinibbio withdrew due to injury (knee). Five days later, Kenny Robertson was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >The main event, Chris Weidman vs Lyoto Machida, was previously scheduled for UFC 173.
- >The matchup of Chael Sonnen vs Wanderlei Silva was previously scheduled for UFC 173 and TUF Brazil 3 Finale.
- >Stefan Struve has yet to fight in 2014, but he has been scheduled to face Alistair Overeem at UFC on Fox 13 in December.
- >Kenny Robertson was originally set to face Zak Cummings at UFC Fight Night 45, but was moved to this card after Cummings was moved to replace another bout.
- >Matt Mitrione went on to fight Derrick Lewis at UFC Fight Night 50.
The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale: Team Edgar vs Team Penn
Jul 6, 2014
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
No changes.
Changes due to Injury: 0
Total Changes to Card: …0
Notes:
- >This event, UFC Fight Night 57 , and the TUF 20 Finale were the only completed events in 2014 that did not have any changes whatsoever. Looks weird, doesn’t it?
UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs Miller
Jul 16, 2014
Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Zak Cummings vs Kenny Robertson. On May 28, 2014, Cummings was pulled from the bout to face Gunnar Nelson at UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Brandão. The bout was scrapped entirely after Robertson was moved to UFC 175 to replace Santiago Ponzinibbio against Ildemar Alcântara.
- Rick Story vs John Howard. On Jun 17, 2014, Howard withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Leonardo Mafra Teixeira was signed as the replacement.
- Lucas Martins vs Jim Alers. On Jun 28, 2014, Alers withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Alex White was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Yosdenis Cedeno vs Leo Kuntz. On Jul 1, 2014, Kuntz withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Jerrod Sanders was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >Leonardo Mafra Teixeira made his return to the UFC after being cut in 2012.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Leonardo Mafra Teixeira and Jerrod Sanders.
UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Brandão
Jul 19, 2014
The O2 in Dublin, Ireland
Main Card
- Gunnar Nelson vs Ryan LaFlare (co-main event). On May 28, 2014, LaFlare withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Zak Cummings was announced as the replacement.
- Conor McGregor vs Cole Miller (main event). On Jun 3, 2014, Miller withdrew due to injury (thumb). Diego Brandão was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Tom Lawlor vs Ilir Latifi. On Jul 1, 2014, Lawlor withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On Jul 3, 2014, Chris Dempsey was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 3
Notes:
- >Ryan LaFlare and Tom Lawlor have yet to be scheduled for any fights since their respective injuries.
- >The UFC signed one fighter as a replacement: Chris Dempsey.
UFC on Fox 12: Lawler vs Brown
Jul 26, 2014
SAP Center in San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Josh Thomson vs Michael Johnson. On Jul 11, 2014, Johnson withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Bobby Green was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Viscardi Andrade vs Andreas Ståhl. On May 22, 2014, Andrade withdrew due to injury (right tibia and fibula). Gilbert Burns was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >Both Michael Johnson and Viscardi Andrade have yet to be scheduled for any more fights since their respective injuries.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Gilbert Burns.
August
UFC 176: Aldo vs Mendes II
Aug 2, 2014
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Main Card
- José Aldo vs Chad Mendes (main event; Featherweight Championship). On Jul 2, 2014, Aldo withdrew due to injury (shoulder and cervical spine). Unable to find a suitable replacement for the main event, on Jul 8, 2014 the UFC announced that UFC 176 would be cancelled. As such, all other fights on the card were scrapped from UFC 176 and rescheduled for other cards.
- Ronaldo Souza vs Gegard Mousasi (co-main event). Moved to be the main event of UFC Fight Night 50.
- Gray Maynard vs Fabrício Camões. Moved to UFC Fight Night 47.
- Bethe Correia vs Shayna Baszler. Moved to UFC 177.
- Jussier Formiga vs Zach Makovsky. Moved to UFC Fight Night 47.
Prelims
- James Vick vs Valmir Lazaro. Moved to UFC Fight Night 49.
- Lorenz Larkin vs Derek Brunson. Moved to UFC 177.
- Bobby Green vs Abel Trujillo. Moved to UFC Fight Night 47.
- Danny Castillo vs Tony Ferguson. Moved to UFC 177.
- Beneil Dariush vs Tony Martin. Moved to UFC Fight Night 49.
- Alex Garcia vs Matt Dwyer. Moved to UFC Fight Night 49.
Changes due to Injury: 11 (entire card)
Total Changes to Card: 11 (entire card)
Notes:
- >This was the second card to be cancelled in the UFC’s history; the first was UFC 151: Jones vs Henderson in 2012.
- >The matchup of José Aldo vs Chad Mendes was later rescheduled to be the main event of UFC 179.
UFC Fight Night 47: Bader vs St. Preux
Aug 16, 2014
Cross Insurance Centre in Bangor, Maine, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Bobby Green vs Abel Trujillo. On Jul 11, 2014, Green was moved to UFC on Fox 12: Lawler vs Brown to replace Michael Johnson against Josh Thomson. One day later, Ross Pearson was announced as the replacement.
- Abel Trujillo vs Ross Pearson. On Aug 4, 2014, Trujillo withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Gray Maynard was moved up to replace Trujillo against Pearson.
- Gray Maynard vs Fabrício Camões. On Aug 4, 2014, Maynard was moved up to replace Abel Trujillo against Ross Pearson. No replacement was sought, and Camões was removed from the card.
Prelims
No changes.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 3
Notes:
- >The match-ups of Bobby Green vs Abel Trujillo, Jussier Formiga vs Zach Makovsky, and Gray Maynard vs Fabrício Camões were originally set for UFC 176, but were moved to this card after 176’s cancellation.
- >Fabrício Camões was scheduled to face Tony Martin at UFC 179 in October.
- >Abel Trujillo was scheduled to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 181 in December.
UFC Fight Night 48: Bisping vs Le
Aug 23, 2014
CotaiArena in Macau, China
Main Card
- Hector Lombard vs Dong Hyun Kim (co-main event). On Jun 24, 2014, Lombard withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Tyron Woodley was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Sheldon Westcott vs Alberto Mina. On Aug 8, 2014, Westcott withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Shinsho Anzai was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- The TUF China featherweight final, Guangyou Ning vs Jianping Yang, took place on this card after initially being scheduled at the TUF China Finale in March.
- Hector Lombard has now been scheduled to face Josh Burkman at UFC 182 in January.
- Sheldon Westcott has yet to be scheduled for any fights since his injury.
- The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Shinsho Anzai.
UFC Fight Night 49: Henderson vs dos Anjos
Aug 23, 2014
BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Jordan Mein vs Thiago Alves. On Jul 2, 2014, Alves withdrew due to injury (knee). Brandon Thatch was announced as the replacement.
- Ernest Chavez vs Mirsad Bektic. On July 11, 2014, Chavez withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Max Holloway was announced as the replacement.
- Jordan Mein vs Brandon Thatch. On Aug 2, 2014, Thatch withdrew due to injury (toe). On Aug 6, 2014, the UFC announced a new matchup of Jordan Mein vs Mike Pyle, whose opponent had also pulled out.
- Demian Maia vs Mike Pyle. On Aug 6, 2014, Maia withdrew due to infection (staph). Pyle was then matched up with Jordan Mein, whose opponent had also pulled out.
- Max Holloway vs Mirsad Bektic. On Aug 18, Bektic withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Clay Collard was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Alex Garcia vs Matt Dwyer. On Jul 9, 2014, Dwyer was replaced by Neil Magny. The reason for this replacement is unknown.
- Tim Elliott vs Wilson Reis. On Aug 14, Elliott withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Joby Sanchez was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 6
Total Changes to Card: 7
Notes:
- >The matchups of Beneil Dariush vs Tony Martin, James Vick vs Valmir Lazaro, and Alex Garcia vs Matt Dwyer were originally set for UFC 176, but were moved to this card after 176’s cancellation.
- >Jordan Mein vs Thiago Alves has been scheduled again for UFC 183 in January.
- >Possibly as a result of the Jordan Mein vs Mike Pyle matchup, the matchup of James Vick vs Valmir Lazaro was moved up from the prelims to the main card.
- >Demian Maia and Tim Elliott have yet to be rescheduled for another fight. For Maia, it was later revealed that the infection had spread to his right clavicle bone, leading to osteomyelitis.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Clay Collard and Joby Sanchez.
UFC 177: Dillashaw vs Soto
Aug 30, 2014
Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Demetrious Johnson vs Chris Cariaso (co-main event; Flyweight Championship). On Aug 12, 2014, the bout was moved to UFC 178 to serve as its new main event, due to the cancellation of the previous main event of Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier. As a result of this move, Danny Castillo vs Tony Ferguson was promoted to the co-main event.
- Ruslan Magomedov vs Richard Odoms. On Aug 18, 2014, Odoms withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). The bout was removed entirely, and Yancy Medeiros vs Justin Edwards was moved up to the main card to compensate.
- Yancy Medeiros vs Justin Edwards. On Aug 21, 2014, Edwards withdrew due to injury (hand). One day later, Damon Jackson was signed as the replacement.
- T.J. Dillashaw vs Renan Barão (main event; Bantamweight Championship). On the day of the weigh-ins, Barão had to be admitted to the hospital after a disastrous attempt to make weight. Barão had to be removed from the card, and Joe Soto was moved up from his bout with Anthony Birchak to replace Barão against Dillashaw.
Prelims
- Scott Jorgensen vs Henry Cejudo. On the day of the weigh-ins, Cejudo withdrew due to illness (cramps and nausea) as a result of cutting weight. As no replacement could be found in time, the bout was cancelled and Jorgensen was removed from the card.
- Joe Soto vs Anthony Birchak. On the day of the weigh-ins, Soto was moved up to the main event to replace Renan Barão against T.J. Dillashaw. As a result, Anthony Birchak was removed from the card.
Changes due to Injury: 6
Total Changes to Card: 6
Notes:
- >Initially, Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson was targeted for UFC 177’s main event, albeit at a different location in Las Vegas. However, Jones never agreed to the date and the bout was pushed to UFC 178 in September.
- >The matchups of Danny Castillo vs Tony Ferguson, Bethe Correia vs Shayna Baszler, and Lorenz Larkin vs Derek Brunson were originally set for UFC 176, but were moved to this card after 176’s cancellation.
- >UFC 177 marked the second time in the UFC’s history where the main event suffered an injury less than two days before the card took place. This first happened at UFC 24, where Kevin Randleman slipped backstage and was knocked out, cancelling the planned heavyweight title bout with Pedro Rizzo entirely.
- >Richard Odoms was quietly released by the UFC sometime subsequent to this event.
- >Henry Cejudo has been scheduled to face Dustin Kimura at UFC on Fox 13 in December.
- >Anthony Birchak has been scheduled to face Ian Entwistle at UFC on Fox 13 in December.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Damon Jackson.
September
UFC Fight Night 50: Jacare vs Mousasi
Sep 5, 2014
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
- Dustin Kimura vs Ian Entwistle. On Aug 22, 2014, Entwistle withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Kimura was then matched up with Chris Beal, whose opponent had also withdrawn.
- Chris Beal vs Rob Font. On Aug 22, 2014, Font withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Beal was then matched up with Dustin Kimura, whose opponent had also withdrawn.
- Andre Fili vs Sean Soriano. On Aug 26, 2014, Fili withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Chas Skelly was announced as the replacement.
- Dustin Kimura vs Chris Beal. On Aug 29, 2014, Kimura withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Tateki Matsuda was signed as the replacement.
- Charles Oliveira vs Nik Lentz. On Sep 4, 2014, Oliveira weighed over the featherweight limit at 150 pounds due to illness (viral infection). The next day, Oliveira was removed from the bout due to health concerns. As this was a last moment act, the bout was cancelled entirely and Nik Lentz was removed from the card.
Changes due to Injury: 5
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >Chas Skelly is the fighter with the shortest turnaround between fights in UFC history: his appearances in the Octagon at this event and at UFC Fight Night 49 on Aug 23, 2014 were only separated by thirteen days.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Tateki Matsuda
UFC Fight Night 51: Bigfoot vs Arlovski
Sep 13, 2014
Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Brazil
Main card
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sérgio Moraes. On Aug 7, 2014, Moraes withdrew due to injury (knee). Three days later, Wendell Oliveira was signed as the replacement.
- Jéssica Andrade vs Valérie Létourneau. On Aug 18, 2014, Létourneau withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Larissa Pacheco was signed as the replacement.
- Leonardo Santos vs Łukasz Sajewski. On Aug 28, 2014, Sajewski withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Efrain Escudero was pulled from his bout with Francisco Trinaldo to replace Sajewski against Santos.
Prelims
- Paulo Thiago vs Mike Rhodes. On Jul 24, 2014, Rhodes withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Joe Riggs was re-signed as the replacement.
- Paulo Thiago vs Joe Riggs. On July 29, 2014, Riggs withdrew due to injury (accidentally shot himself). Sean Spencer was announced as the replacement.
- Efrain Escudero vs Francisco Trinaldo. On Aug 28, 2014, Escudero was moved up to replace Łukasz Sajewski against Leonardo Santos. Leandro Silva was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 6
Total Changes to Card: 6
Notes:
- >The rematch between Rani Yahya and Johnny Bedford, originally set for UFC Fight Night 44 in June, took place at this event.
- >Efrain Escudero made his return to the UFC after being cut in 2010.
- >Leandro Silva made his return to the UFC after being cut in 2013.
- >Joe Riggs was set to make his return to the UFC after seven years. He left the UFC in 2007 to fight for the WEC Middleweight Championship, a bout that never materialized due to Riggs suffering a back injury the day before the fight was set to take place. He has been scheduled to fight Ben Saunders at UFC on Fox 13: Dos Santos vs Miocic in December.
- >Łukasz Sajewski has yet to fight for the UFC, and currently there is nothing booked for the Polish fighter.
- >Paulo Thiago was cut from the UFC after this loss to Sean Spencer.
UFC Fight Night 52: Hunt vs Nelson
Sep 20, 2014
Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan
Main Card
- Chris Cariaso vs Kyoji Horiguchi. On Jul 15, 2014, Cariaso was pulled from the bout to face Demetrious Johnson at UFC 177. On Aug 8, 2014, Jon Delos Reyes was announced as the replacement.
- Kyle Noke vs Yoshihiro Akiyama. On Aug 7, 2014, Noke withdrew due to injury (knee). One day later, Amir Sadollah was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Darren Elkins. On Jun 25, 2014, Kawajiri withdrew due to injury (detached retina in left eye). A replacement was never sought and Elkins was removed from the card.
- Urijah Faber vs Masanori Kanehara. On Aug 8, 2014, Faber withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Alex Caceres was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >Amir Sadollah was pulled from his bout with Nico Musoke at UFC Fight Night 53 in October to face Akiyama.
- >Darren Elkins is now scheduled to face Lucas Martins at UFC 179.
UFC 178: Johnson vs Cariaso
Sep 27, 2014
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Donald Cerrone vs Khabib Nurmagomedov. On Jul 18, 2014, Nurmagomedov withdrew due to injury (knee). On Aug 14, 2014, Bobby Green was pulled from his match-up with Jorge Masvidal to be the new opponent for Cerrone. Cerrone vs Green was set to be the co-main event.
- Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson (main event; Light Heavyweight Championship). On Jul 23, 2014, Gustafsson withdrew due to injury (torn right meniscus and lateral collateral ligament). Daniel Cormier was announced as the replacement.
- Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier (main event; Light Heavyweight Championship). On Aug 12, 2014, Jones withdrew due to injury (leg). As a result, the bout was cancelled and the main event was replaced by Demetrious Johnson vs Chris Cariaso.
- Donald Cerrone vs Bobby Green (co-main event). On Aug 19, 2014, Green was pulled from the bout in favour of Eddie Alvarez, who had just signed with the UFC.
Prelims
- Bobby Green vs Jorge Masvidal. On Aug 14, 2014, Bobby Green was pulled from the bout to face Donald Cerrone. James Krause was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson was initially planned for UFC 177’s date, but Jones did not agree to the contract.
- >UFC 178 was originally set in Toronto, Canada, but on Jul 5, 2014, the UFC announced that the event would now be in Las Vegas. When asked why, UFC President Dana White said that Las Vegas wanted the fight more.
- >Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier is now scheduled to be the main event for UFC 182 in January.
- >According to White, Khabib Nurmagomedov injured his knee “literally 20 minutes after he signed the deal.”
- >Bobby Green has now been scheduled to face Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 57 in November.
October
UFC Fight Night 53: Nelson vs Story
Oct 4, 2014
Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden
Main Card
- Chan Sung Jung vs Akira Corassani (co-main event). On Aug 26, 2014, Jung withdrew due to injury (shoulder). Max Holloway was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Amir Sadollah vs Nico Musoke. On Aug 8, 2014, Sadollah was moved to replace Kyle Noke against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC Fight Night 52. Alexander Yakovlev was announced as the replacement.
- Dennis Siver vs Robert Whiteford. On Sep 9, 2014, Whiteford withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On Sep 24, 2014, Taylor Lapilus was signed as the replacement.
- Dennis Siver vs Taylor Lapilus. On Sep 29, 2014, Lapilus was removed after the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation ruled him to be an unsuitable opponent for Siver. Charles Rosa was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 3
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >Chan Sung Jung has yet to fight in 2014, and will likely not fight again for a long while due to a mandatory two-year stint for military service.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Taylor Lapilus and Charles Rosa.
UFC Fight Night 54: MacDonald vs Saffiedine
Oct 4, 2014
Scotiabank Center in Halifax, Canada
Main Card
- Mitch Gagnon vs Aljamain Sterling. On Sep 8, 2014, Sterling withdrew due to injury (hand). Rob Font was announced as the replacement.
- Mitch Gagnon vs Rob Font. On Sep 29, 2014, Font withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Roman Salazar was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Paige VanZant vs Kailin Curran. On Aug 26, 2014, VanZant withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Instead of searching for a replacement, the UFC moved the bout one month forward to UFC Fight Night 57 in November.
- Louis Gaudinot vs Patrick Holohan. On Sep 29, 2014, Gaudinot withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Chris Kelades was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >T.J. Grant was rumoured for this event, but nothing ever materialized as he is still struggling to resume normal training. Grant suffered a concussion last year that took him out of a Lightweight Championship fight against Benson Henderson, and the after-effects of that concussion continues to plague him throughout 2014.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Roman Salazar and Chris Kelades.
UFC 179: Aldo vs Mendes II
Oct 25, 2014
Ginásio do Maracanãzinho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Main Card
- Alan Patrick vs Beneil Dariush. On Sep 29, 2014, Patrick withdrew due to injury (jaw). One day later, Carlos Diego Ferreira was announced as the replacement.
Prelims
- Fabrício Camões vs Josh Shockley. On Sep 24, 2014, Shockley withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Tony Martin was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >José Aldo vs Chad Mendes was originally set to take place in August at UFC 176. However, Aldo pulled out due to injury, which also resulted in the cancellation of the event.
- >Jeremy Stephens vs Lucas Martins was a rumoured match-up. However, on Sep 3, 2014, Stephens’ manager revealed that the match-up was never confirmed and Stephens did not want the fight. On Sep 9, 2014, Darren Elkins was announced as the opponent for Martins.
- >Darren Elkins was originally connected to a bout with Tatsuya Kawajiri at UFC Fight Night 52. That fight never materialized due to an injury suffered by Kawajiri.
- >Camões was set to face Gray Maynard in August at UFC Fight Night 47. However, Maynard was pulled to replace Abel Trujillo against Ross Pearson, and Camões was pulled from the card entirely.
November
UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs Bisping
Nov 8, 2014
Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia
Main Card
- Soa Palelei vs Daniel Omielańczuk. On Oct 19, 2014 Omielańczuk withdrew due to injury (thumb). Walt Harris was re-signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Ray Borg vs Richie Vaculik. On Sep 29, 2014, Borg withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Neil Seery was announced as the replacement.
- Patrick Williams vs Jumabieke Tuerxun. On Oct 10, 2014, Williams withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Marcus Brimage was moved from UFC 180 to replace Williams against Tuerxun.
- Mark Eddiva vs Mike De La Torre. On Oct 14, 2014, the bout was removed entirely after it was revealed that both fighters withdrew due to injuries (both undisclosed).
- Aljamain Sterling vs Frankie Saenz. On Oct 26, 2014, Saenz withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Michael Imperato was signed as the replacement.
- Aljamain Sterling vs Michael Imperato. On Oct 27, 2014, the UFC rescinded the signing of Imperato after it came to light that he had made several racist and homophobic remarks. On Oct 29, 2014, the UFC announced that the bout was cancelled entirely and Sterling was removed from the card.
- Neil Seery vs Richie Vaculik. On Oct 28, 2014, Seery withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Louis Smolka was announced as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 6
Total Changes to Card: 7
Notes:
- >Marcus Brimage was originally set to face Érik Pérez at UFC 180 later in November. However, Pérez pulled out due to injury.
- >Walt Harris made his return to the UFC after being cut earlier in 2014.
- >The UFC signed one new fighter to serve as a replacement: Michael Imperato. However, Imperato was removed from the UFC less than 24 hours after it was announced he was signed.
UFC Fight Night 56: Shogun vs St. Preux
Nov 8, 2014
Ginásio Municipal Tancredo Neves in Uberlândia, Brazil
Main Card
- Rafael Cavalcante vs Ovince St. Preux (co-main event). On Sep 26, 2014, Cavalcante withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Francimar Barroso was announced as the replacement.
- Maurício Rua vs Jimi Manuwa (main event). On Oct 29, 2014, Manuwa withdrew due to injury (foot). Ovince St. Preux was pulled from his fight with Francimar Barroso and named as the replacement.
- Ovince St. Preux vs Francimar Barroso (co-main event). As a result of St. Preux being promoted to the main event, this match-up was scrapped entirely. Ian McCall vs John Lineker was moved up to the co-main event.
- Ian McCall vs John Lineker (co-main event). On Nov 7, 2014, the night before the fight, McCall withdrew due to illness (viral infection). No replacement could be found in time and the bout was scrapped entirely. Warlley Alves vs Alan Jouban was moved up to the co-main event.
Prelims
- Dhiego Lima vs Pawel Pawlak. On Nov 2, 2014, Pawlak withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Jorge Oliveira was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 5
Total Changes to Card: 5
Notes:
- >Dhiego Lima vs Jorge Oliveira was promoted to the main card as a result of the cancellation of Ian McCall vs John Lineker.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Jorge Oliveira.
UFC 180: Werdum vs Hunt
Nov 15, 2014
Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, Mexico
Main Card
- Diego Sanchez vs Norman Parke. On Oct 3, 2014, Parke withdrew due to injury (knee). Joe Lauzon was announced as the replacement.
- Érik Pérez vs Marcus Brimage. On Oct 10, 2014, Pérez withdrew due to injury (shoulder). Brimage was later moved to UFC Fight Night 55 to replace Patrick Williams against Jumabieke Tuerxun.
- Cain Velasquez vs Fabricio Werdum (main event; Heavyweight Championship). On Oct 21, 2014, Velasquez withdrew due to injury (knee). Mark Hunt was announced as the replacement.
- Diego Sanchez vs Joe Lauzon. On Oct 23, 2014, both Lauzon and Sanchez withdrew due to injuries. As a result, the bout was removed entirely.
Prelims
No changes.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >As a result of the Diego Sanchez vs Joe Lauzon bout being cancelled, Edgar Garcia vs Héctor Urbina was promoted to the main card.
- >Conor McGregor made multiple attempts to get himself on this card to face Diego Sanchez, to the point that he had convinced people that the match-up had been offiically booked. However, McGregor would end up being positioned in a main event versus Dennis Siver in Boston in January 2015.
- >Two bouts between The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America contestants (Masio Fullen vs Alexander Torres and Fredy Serrano vs Bentley Syler) were originally targeted for this event, but were moved to future events (yet unspecifed).
UFC Fight Night 57: Edgar vs Swanson
Nov 22, 2014
Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
No changes.
Changes due to Injury: 0
Total Changes to Card: 0
Notes:
- >Along with The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale: Team Edgar vs Team Penn, this event was one of the only ones to pass by and not suffer any changes at all. In an interesting coincidence, both of these events were headlined by Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.
- >Paige VanZant vs Kailin Curran was originally scheduled for UFC Fight Night 54 in October. However, after a minor injury suffered by VanZant, the bout was moved to his card.
December
UFC 181: Hendricks vs Lawler II
Dec 6, 2014
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Chris Weidman vs Vitor Belfort (main event; Middleweight Championship). On Sep 22, 2014, Weidman withdrew due to injury (hand). The UFC decided to cancel the bout and replace it with Johny Hendricks vs Robbie Lawler as the new main event.
- Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington. On Nov 13, 2014, Holm withdrew due to injury (neck). On Nov 18, 2014, Ashlee Evans-Smith was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Corey Anderson vs Gian Villante. On Nov 13, 2014, Villante withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On Nov 18, 2014, Jonathan Wilson was signed as the replacement.
- Corey Anderson vs Jonathan Wilson. On Nov 24, 2014, Wilson withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Justin Jones was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 4
Total Changes to Card: 4
Notes:
- >The bout of Chris Weidman vs Vitor Belfort is now being re-targeted for UFC 184 in February 2015.
- >As a result of the injury to Holly Holm, the bout of Todd Duffee vs Anthony Hamilton was promoted to the main card. Raquel Pennington vs Ashlee Evans-Smith was moved to the prelims.
- >UFC 181 was originally set to be in Montreal, Canada. However, like the prospective Toronto card for UFC 178, this Canadian city was also replaced in favour of a Las Vegas locale. However, an event is rumoured for Montreal in March 2015.
- >The UFC signed two fighters to serve as replacements: Jonathan Wilson and Justin Jones.
The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale: A Champion Will Be Crowned
Dec 12, 2014
Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
Main Card
No changes.
Prelims
No changes .
Changes due to Injury: 0
Total Changes to Card: 0
Notes:
- >Along with the TUF 19 Finale and UFC Fight Night 57, this event had no changes, making it one of three cards to remain intact in 2014.
UFC on Fox 13: Dos Santos vs Miocic
Dec 13, 2014
US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.
Main Card
- Alexander Gustafsson vs Anthony Johnson. On Sep 25, 2014, Dana White confirmed that the bout was pretty much set in place before domestic abuse allegations against Johnson came to light. On Sep 19, 2014, Johnson was placed under indefinite suspension from the UFC. No replacement was sought.
- Jussier Formiga vs John Moraga. On Nov 21, 2014, Formiga withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). On Nov 25, 2014, Willie Gates was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Ed Herman vs Derek Brunson. On the day of the event, Brunson withdrew due to illness (stomach ailment). Since this came about just before the card was to begin, the bout was cancelled entirely.
Changes due to Injury: 2
Total Changes to Card: 3
Notes:
- >Junior dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic was originally booked as the co-main event for UFC 173 in May, and then was moved to the main event for the TUF Brazil 3 Finale in May, However, an injury removed dos Santos from the bout.
- >Alexander Gustafsson is now expected to face Anthony Johnson at UFC on Fox 14 in Sweden on January 24, 2015.
- >Ed Herman vs Derek Brunson has now been rescheduled for UFC 183 in late January.
- >The UFC signed one fighter to serve as a replacement: Willie Gates.
UFC Fight Night 58: Machida vs Dollaway
Dec 20, 2014
Ginásio José Corrêa in Barueri, Brazil
Main Card
- Rony Jason vs Tom Niinimaki. On Dec 10, 2014, Rony Jason withdrew due to injury (undisclosed). Renato Carneiro was signed as the replacement.
Prelims
- Daniel Sarafian vs Dan Miller. On Dec 11, 2014, Dan Miller withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Antonio dos Santos Jr. was signed as the replacement.
Changes due to Injury: 1
Total Changes to Card: 2
Notes:
- >Presumably as a result of the changes, Daniel Sarafian vs Antonio dos Santos Jr. was promoted to the main card, while Tom Niinimaki vs Renato Carneiro was relegated to the prelims.
- >The UFC signed two fighters as replacements: Renato Carneiro and Antonio dos Santos Jr.
That’s all folks!
by Alan C.K.