The main event was originally scheduled as an interim lightweight championship fight; however, then-lightweight champion Sean Sherk was stripped of his title after the California State Athletic Commission upheld his suspension for testing positive for the anabolic steroidNandrolone. With the lightweight championship vacated, the Penn vs. Stevenson bout was altered to be for the undisputed lightweight championship.
Results
Bonus awards
At the end of this event, $35,000 was awarded to each of the fighters who received one of these three awards.
Polarising star Sean Strickland has lived up to his reputation for controversy ahead of UFC 312 by slamming Australia's 'pathetic' response to the Port Arthur massacre, which saw 35 people murdered by Martin Bryant.