Back in 2011, the UFC hosted a huge event that took an unexpected twist. Fans often recall how the UFC would go the extra mile to make big fight announcements feel special. Nowadays, main events are typically revealed through Dana White’s social media live streams, but the January announcement for UFC 324 was presented in a more elaborate fashion.
Similarly, the surprise announcement of Max Holloway versus Charles Oliveira II for UFC 326 was handled uniquely, with both fighters appearing together on stage at a press conference. While the reaction to this announcement was mixed, it at least proved to be justified—something not always guaranteed.
Meanwhile, on this day in 2011, UFC 140 took place at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, featuring a stacked card with highlights like Frank Mir’s submission win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Jon Jones securing a defining victory over Lyoto Machida in the main event. Interestingly, Jones wasn’t supposed to headline; Dana White initially announced Machida vs. Phil Davis as the main event. However, this was quickly corrected because Davis was recovering from knee surgery and unable to compete.
Phil Davis later revealed that he had no prior knowledge of being booked for UFC 140, emphasizing that he was still in recovery and not ready to fight. He returned to the octagon the following January but lost to Rashad Evans in a title eliminator. Davis described his situation as simply playing along with the UFC’s plans without influence over the decisions.
Fan Take: This glimpse into how fight promotions and announcements have evolved over the years highlights the fluid and unpredictable nature of the sport. For fight fans, it’s a reminder that behind-the-scenes decisions can significantly influence matchups and the overall narrative of MMA, adding an extra layer of intrigue to every event.
