The event marked the promotion's 32nd overall visit to Canada and sixth to Vancouver, returning to the country for the first time since UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje in September 2019.[2]
A middleweight bout between Chris Curtis and Nassourdine Imavov took place at the event. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other pre-UFC at ARES FC 2 in October 2020, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19 complications.[8]
Matt Schnell and David Dvořák were scheduled to meet in a flyweight bout on the preliminary card.[12] However, Schnell pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Stephen Erceg.[13]