UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 12, 1993 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
| Products | Mixed martial arts events |
| Website | www |
UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland—also referred to as UFC on ABC 2 and UFC Vegas 23'—was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 10, 2021. The event took place at the UFC Apex facility located in Enterprise, Nevada, within the Las Vegas metropolitan region.
Background
This occasion represented the inaugural appearance of Venum as the UFC's official apparel sponsor, replacing Reebok, which had maintained the partnership since 2014. The agreement with Venum was finalized in July 2020 and became effective in April 2021.
Initially, the main event was scheduled as a middleweight clash between former UFC Welterweight Championship contender Darren Till and Marvin Vettori. However, Till withdrew on March 30 due to a fractured collarbone. Subsequently, on April 1, Kevin Holland accepted the challenge on just nine days' notice to confront Vettori, equaling the record for the shortest interval between two main event appearances.
A middleweight matchup featuring Zak Cummings versus Sam Alvey was planned, but Cummings withdrew for unspecified reasons and was substituted by Julian Marquez.
A light heavyweight contest between Shamil Gamzatov and Da Un Jung was arranged; however, Gamzatov pulled out because of visa complications and was replaced by William Knight.
In the women's bantamweight division, Bea Malecki was scheduled to face Norma Dumont, but Malecki withdrew one week prior to the event. Promotional newcomer Erin Blanchfield stepped in as her replacement.
A middleweight bout between Kyle Daukaus and Aliaskhab Khizriev was also set but removed from the card on April 7 due to COVID-19 health protocols.
During weigh-ins, Ignacio Bahamondes failed to make weight by three-quarters of a pound; his fight continued at catchweight with a penalty of 20% of his purse awarded to his opponent, John Makdessi. Meanwhile, Norma Dumont weighed in 3.5 pounds over the limit, resulting in her bout with Blanchfield being cancelled by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Bonus awards
Monetary bonuses of $50,000 were granted as follows:
- Fight of the Night: Julian Marquez vs. Sam Alvey
- Performance of the Night: Mackenzie Dern and Mateusz Gamrot