UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 | ||||
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A poster or logo for UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2.
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Information | ||||
Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
Date | December 14, 2013 | |||
Venue | Sleep Train Arena | |||
City | Sacramento, California | |||
Attendance | 11,573 | |||
Total gate | $1,066,610 | |||
Event chronology | ||||
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UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 (also known as UFC on Fox 9) was a mixed martial arts event held on December 14, 2013 at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. It was the UFC's third visit to the venue, after UFC 65 and UFC 73.
A UFC Lightweight title bout between the former champion Anthony Pettis and former top contender TJ Grant was targeted for this event. However, Grant revealed in mid-September that he has yet to be medically cleared after suffering a concussion in training and would not be eligible to compete on December 14 and opted to decline the bout. Pettis was then expected to face Josh Thomson in the event headliner. However, on November 10, 2013, it was announced that Pettis was injured and the bout was cancelled. The new main event was a rematch for the Flyweight title between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez.
Co-featured on the card was a bout between top bantamweight contenders Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald.
Ian McCall was expected to face Scott Jorgensen at the event. However, McCall was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by John Dodson. Then on December 3, Dodson himself was forced from the bout after sustaining a knee injury. Jorgensen instead faced former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky.
Jamie Varner was expected to face Pat Healy at this event. However, Varner pulled out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Bobby Green