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UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi is an upcoming mixed martial arts event that will be held on April 25, 2015 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Official fight card
Main Card
Flyweight Demetrious Johnson (c) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi For the UFC Flyweight Championship.
Catchweight (215 lbs) Quinton Jackson vs. Fábio Maldonado
Middleweight Michael Bisping vs. C.B. Dollaway
Catchweight (160 lbs) John Makdessi vs. Shane Campbell
Bantamweight Yves Jabouin vs. Thomas Almeida
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)
Welterweight Patrick Côté vs. Joe Riggs
Women's Bantamweight Alexis Davis vs. Sarah Kaufman
Lightweight Chad Laprise vs. Bryan Barberena
Lightweight Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. David Michaud
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight Nordine Taleb vs. Chris Clements
Women's Strawweight Jessica Rakoczy vs. Valérie Létourneau
Women's Strawweight Aisling Daly vs. Randa Markos
Background
The event will be the seventh event that the UFC has hosted in Montreal, Quebec.
The event was expected to be headlined by a UFC Bantamweight Championship rematch between current champion T.J. Dillashaw and former champion Renan Barão. However on March 24, it was announced that Dillashaw had to pull out of the fight due to a broken rib and the fight was postponed. A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Demetrious Johnson and top contender Kyoji Horiguchi, originally scheduled for the co-main event, will now serve as the event's headliner.
A welterweight bout between Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard was expected to take place at the event. However, on February 10, the UFC announced the removal of both participants from the card and indicated that the pairing had been scrapped. It was later revealed that the fight was canceled due to Lombard's failed drug test from UFC 182. Subsequently, it was announced that MacDonald would receive a title shot against current champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 189.
Cláudio Silva was expected to face Nordine Taleb at the event. However, Silva pulled out of the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Chris Clements.
Abel Trujillo was expected to face John Makdessi at the event. However on April 1, it was announced that Trujillo had pulled out of the fight due to a broken arm and was replaced by promotional newcomer Shane Campbell. The fight will be contested at a catchweight of 160 lbs.
Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson was expected to make his return to the promotion against Fábio Maldonado at the co-main event. However on April 7, his most recent employer, Bellator MMA, was granted an injunction by a New Jersey Superior Court judge preventing him from competing for the UFC after it was alleged that he breached a deal signed in June 2013. On the same day, the UFC announced that "UFC 186 in Montreal, Canada will proceed as planned and UFC is currently evaluating its fight card options.” Three days later the UFC announced that Jackson would be replaced by former hockey player Steve Bossé. They also stated that "at the moment, Jackson and his representatives plan to appeal the court’s order, but with the event drawing nearer, the UFC has had to take action to ensure a suitable replacement was found to face Maldonado." On April 21, it was confirmed by the UFC that the court injunction blocking Jackson’s return was lifted, paving the way for his participation at the event. The bout is expected to maintain its original co-main event status and be contested at a catchweight of 215 lbs. Bossé will no longer compete at the event, but will receive his show money.
Apr 15 - Updated fight card & background
Apr 24 - Updated fight card & background