マウリシオ・ショーグン
Jon Jones had won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship earlier in the year after defeating Maurício Rua at "UFC 128" by technical knockout. Six months later, Jones defended the title after submitting Quinton Jackson, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, at "UFC 135". Lyoto Machida was himself a former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, having won the title via a knock out win over Rashad Evans at "UFC 98" in 2009. Machida lost the title a year later to Maurício Rua at "UFC 113", the same man from whom Jones won the title in Rua's next outing. Machida's only career losses were to Rua and Jackson, both of whom Jones had beaten earlier in 2011.