[3] A Bellator Lightweight World Championship bout between current champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Alexandr Shabliy was expected to headlined the event.

[5] A Bellator Bantamweight World Championship bout between current champion (also Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix winner) Patchy Mix and Magomed Magomedov was expected to take place at the co-main event.

[7] The pairing previously met at Bellator 289 in December 2022, which Mix won by second round technical submission.

[9] However, Anderson was involved in a hit-and-run accident that severely injured his left foot and withdrew from the bout.

His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined a percent of his purse which went to his opponent Archie Colgan.