The UFC has a history of successfully replacing main events, often creating memorable and historic fights, with the latest example being Alex Pereira stepping in for Conor McGregor to fight Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303.
Nobody rolls with the punches quite like Dana White and the UFC.
Conor McGregor isn’t making that walk to the octagon this Saturday at UFC 303 (sorry, Michael Chandler), but in his place stands arguably the promotion’s most valuable player Alex Pereira to take on Jiri Prochazka. It’s an incredibly compelling main event, one that might even be better than the originally scheduled headliner.
This isn’t the first time that the UFC has pulled a rabbit out of its hat; frankly, the matchmakers have made it a habit of falling upwards even under the most discouraging circumstances. But what’s been their best magic trick?
Ahead of Saturday’s show in Las Vegas, MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee and Jed Meshew tip their cap to the best-ever replacement main events, a handful of which changed the course of UFC history.
(Note: we didn’t include matchups that were already scheduled for a card and simply promoted to the main event, nor did we consider main events that were already booked and just rescheduled for another date.)
Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz 1 — UFC 196
Why did it happen?
Conor McGregor was set to take on lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos but an injury forced dos Anjos out and in stepped fan favorite Nate Diaz.
How did it play out?
Disappointingly at first for McGregor and the UFC but amazingly well for everyone in the long run from a business standpoint.
Diaz and McGregor did a fantastic job building up the fight hitting all the right notes at pre-fight press conferences so when they actually threw down anticipation was at fever pitch.
Then Diaz shocked everyone not only surviving McGregor’s Left Hand of Doom but firing back in classic Stockton style beating him so badly on feet that McGregor chose to take fight to mat which proved his undoing as Diaz subbed him with rear-naked choke launching himself into superstardom setting up box-office shattering rematch pushing UFC closer unstoppable juggernaut you see today.
Seriously imagine if Conor just fought dos Anjos.—Lee
Michael Bisping vs Luke Rockhold 2 — UFC 199
Why did it happen?
The middleweight title rematch wasn’t expected as Michael Bisping was always seen as guy who couldn’t win big one frequently falling short competing title but three-fight win streak kept him hovering around championship picture when Rockhold vs Weidman fell through enter Bisping.
This scenario seemed ridiculous considering Rockhold manhandled Bisping first time they fought so this was expected stopgap until Weidman ready fight again.
“How did it play out?”
In most surprising uplifting way imaginable.
>Bisping massive underdog given fact Rockhold basically knocked him out then submitted him carrying hands down by waist chin up air after lazy effort leapt jab Bisping returned combination stunning champion left hook pouring offense pulling off greatest upsets UFC history.—“Meshew”“Dan Henderson vs Shogun Rua — UFC 139”
“Why did it happen?”
“How did it play out?”
“Lee”
“Yair Rodriguez vs Korean Zombie — Denver November 2018″“Why did it happen?”
Chan Sung Jung set go down Denver ring anniversary Edgar injured replaced fighter demolished Yair Rodriguez unexpected prolonged dispute allegedly declining fights reportedly released everyone made nice “El Pantera” suddenly set fight Zombie.
“How did it play out?”
“Meshew”Jon Jones Jose Aldo Demetrious Johnson Dillashaw whooped -100 betting favorite beat yard dog remotely competitive answer movement speed darting style striking nearly finished showing grit hang proved best part wailed next minutes finally closing mercy-kill finish began head kick exhausted battered Barao nowhere era began Meshew h Deiveson Figueiredo Brandon Moreno—UFC t Why conversation started Brazilian saving card forget making fastest turnaround champion beat Alex Perez looked neat campaign needed headliner multiple reported rumored bouts fell including Amanda Nunes Megan Anderson Aljamain Sterling Petr Yan loop cage days later won instant classic further established human buzzsaw bonafides shredded rounds highest high-level result slightly spoiled losing point low blow resulted majority draw rather points mattered beginning rivalry always viewed something fun-loving action fighter wasn’t taken seriously contender stood toe-to-toe dangerous finisher division won rematch months later turned second four consecutive fights warriors Lee Conor Chad Mendes—UFC Featherweight king Jose Aldo supposed silence heavily hyped contest forced heavily hyped contest stepped Mendes star power known wrestling notoriously kept away fighters could put hype train about rails earned stripes weren fans time look back run title Max Holloway Dustin Poirier understandably wowed truth wins weren huge deal neither fighter would become line cherry-picking opponents make look much like Alex Pereira stepped cynical hardcore fans presented impossible challenge durable guy simply repeatedly accepted short notice applauded moxie believed backfire Notorious dead wrong plenty success early scoring takedowns wouldn last correctly assessed short notice hurt cardio attacked body early often draining gas tank couldn keep offense once faltered end Round turned dropping patented left hand pouring punishment finish never same Meshew figure span inner span image original uploads chorus asset file25981521009mauricioruavsjonjones picture cid site picture_element-17194104096193104418 source srcset thumb LFDvhqJcT2mkvUgptqyyXwhlo==00 filters focal(00 format web no upscale)/uploads chorus asset file25981521009mauricioruavsjonjones img thumb pFwAreiJTMAURu4UENdUCJb4shQ==00 filters focal(00 no upscale)/uploads chorus asset file25981521009mauricioruavsjonjones alt loading lazy upload width width height src span meta figcaption Jon Jones Mauricio Shogun Rua figcaption cite Esther Lin MMA Fighting cite figure Jon Jones Shogun Rua Why Once upon ultimate opportunist Seven fights career recognized prodigy status matter contemporaries Ryan Bader toyed tapping Round dominant choice ask replace Rashad Evans immediately after Evans booked challenge light heavyweight champion knee sidelined leading taking place close friend training partner drama moment changing guard relates sports phrase platonic ideal Hall Famer incredible relic bygone era being well-rounded tough exceptional skills good enough enter enormous great athlete chance Rewatching touch gloves apparent bigger moving twice takes big brother mushes physicality length elbows stands battle lost progressively worse smacks phases nearly stopping ground-and-pound third survives briefly feet continues assault wrapping body shot knee defeated ushering perhaps dominant championship era history Meshew Alex Pereira Jiri Prochazka—UFC Why happening Conor injured toesie-woesie How compare rest Objectively better several ways help feeling lost deserves build forever known rematch happened couldn epic years hardly remember matchup came doubt shadow looms large comfortable tagging replacement shouldn tired seeing great fighters clean overstuffed schedule Hats glued screen true fought months replacement name conceived exercise realize ends happening color historically every moment fully aware happens where saw coming justified caring non-competitive miracle indelible moment reach lofty heights reason fabric unravel outcome miraculous loses rematch measure good potential memorable merits exciting styles uniquely suited deliver incredible action heading Fight Year absolutely potential list special doubt Meshew div