UFC 161
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | June 15, 2013 |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada |
Area served | Canada |
UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event that took place on June 15, 2013, at the MTS Centre located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Background
This event represented the UFC's debut in Manitoba, further extending its footprint within the Canadian market. The original main attraction was planned to be an Interim Bantamweight Championship clash featuring the titleholder Renan Barão against former WEC Bantamweight Champion Eddie Wineland. Due to a foot injury sustained by Barão, he had to withdraw, which resulted in Wineland being removed from the card. Consequently, the bout between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson, initially scheduled for three rounds, was promoted to headline status.
Additional alterations to the fight card included Kenny Robertson stepping in for TJ Waldburger to face off against Sean Pierson. On the undercard, Stipe Miocic was originally matched with veteran fighter Soa Palelei, but after adjustments were made to strengthen the main card following the headline change, Roy Nelson replaced Palelei. Despite this, Palelei remained available as a potential substitute for heavyweight contests.
Isaac Vallie-Flagg pulled out because of a back injury and was substituted by James Krause in his bout against Sam Stout. The co-main event rematch between Antônio Rogério Nogueira and Maurício Rua was canceled when Nogueira withdrew due to a back injury. Although there was brief consideration of Chael Sonnen as a replacement, visa complications prevented his involvement, leading to Rua's removal from the lineup.
The preliminary card was headlined by a matchup between Jake Shields and Tyron Woodley.
Bonus awards
A $50,000 bonus was awarded to fighters who delivered exceptional performances:
- Fight of the Night: Sam Stout vs. James Krause
- Knockout of the Night: Shawn Jordan
- Submission of the Night: James Krause