UFC 226

UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on July 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area.

Background

The event took place during the UFC's annual International Fight Week.

A UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Stipe Miocic and current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier headlined the event. They also served as the head coaches of The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated. If successful, Cormier would become only the second fighter to be champion in two divisions simultaneously (after Conor McGregor who won the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 205 when he was the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion) as well as the fifth overall to win a title in different divisions. This was the third time in UFC history that champions in different divisions fought for the same title, following UFC 94 and UFC 205.

A UFC Featherweight Championship bout between current champion Max Holloway and Brian Ortega was expected to take place at the event. However, on July 4, Holloway was pulled from the fight due to "concussion like symptoms". As a result, Ortega was removed from the card as well.

Gökhan Saki was expected to face Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 219. However, Saki pulled out of the fight citing a leg injury. The pairing eventually took place at this event.

Paulo Costa was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee. However, Costa pulled out of the fight in mid-March with an arm injury. In turn, promotion officials elected to pull Hall from that event entirely and rescheduled the pairing for this event.