UFC 234
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports entertainment |
| Founded | February 10, 2019 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Mixed martial arts competition |
UFC 234: Adesanya vs. Silva was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which took place on February 10, 2019, at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
Background
Originally, the main event was scheduled to feature a UFC Middleweight Championship contest between former titleholder Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum. However, Whittaker had to pull out just hours before the fight due to a hernia and a collapsed bowel that necessitated urgent surgical intervention. As a result, the co-main event—a three-round matchup between emerging contender Israel Adesanya and ex-champion Anderson Silva—was elevated to headline the card.
There were further adjustments to the fight lineup: Ryan Spann withdrew because of a hand injury and was substituted by Sam Alvey to face Jimmy Crute. Additionally, Alex Gorgees was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Callan Potter, who stepped in against Jalin Turner.
Bonus awards
Monetary bonuses of $50,000 were granted for exceptional performances:
- Fight of the Night: Israel Adesanya vs. Anderson Silva
- Performance of the Night: Montana De La Rosa and Devonte Smith