The event in Brasília was the first that the organization hosted in the Brazilian capital city.[2]

The event was headlined by a heavyweight rematch between Antonio Silva and Andrei Arlovski.[3] Their first fight at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery ended in a unanimous decision victory for Silva.

Paulo Thiago was expected to face Mike Rhodes at the event. However, Rhodes was forced out of the bout due to injury, and was briefly replaced by returning veteran Joe Riggs.[4] On July 29, it was announced that Riggs had to pull out of the bout due to a gun accident with non-life threatening injuries in his house.[5] On the same day Sean Spencer replaced Riggs as Thiago's new opponent.[6]

Santiago Ponzinibbio was expected to face Sérgio Moraes at the event. However, Moraes pulled out of the bout citing a lingering knee injury.[7] He was replaced by Wendell Oliveira.[8]

Valérie Létourneau was expected to face Jéssica Andrade at the event. However, Létourneau pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by former Jungle Fight women's bantamweight champion Larissa Pacheco.[9]

Promotional newcomer Łukasz Sajewski was expected to make his debut at the event against Leonardo Santos. Sajewski was removed from the card and Santos will now face Efrain Escudero. While Escudero's initial opponent Francisco Trinaldo faced Leandro Silva.