UFC 215

The promotion was initially planning a PPV event for August 19 at a venue to be in announced in the United States (presumably Seattle), possibly with UFC Flyweight Champion and Seattle-area resident Demetrious Johnson. However, those plans were nixed on June 26, though no exact reason was given. Therefore, an originally scheduled UFC 216 to be held at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on September 9 was renamed as UFC 215.

While the UFC has hosted many events across Canada, the event was the first held in Edmonton (second in Alberta, after UFC 149 in 2012). Zuffa hosted a World Extreme Cagefighting event, WEC 49, at Rexall Place in Edmonton in June 2010.

A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Demetrious Johnson and Ray Borg was expected to serve as the event headliner. If successful in his title defense, Johnson would have become the UFC fighter with most title defenses of all time, with a total of eleven.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/two-title-fights-headline-ufc-215-in-edmonton-1.809726|title=Two title fights headline UFC 215 in Edmonton|publisher=tsn.ca|author=Staff|date=2017-07-20|access-date=2017-07-20}} In turn, the fight was canceled a day before the event, as Borg was forced to withdraw from the fight on Thursday evening due to illness. According to multiple sources, Borg was battling an illness and was deemed unfit to fight by UFC doctors. His illness was unrelated to his weight cut, sources say.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/9/8/16272540/demetrious-johnson-vs-ray-borg-ufc-215-main-event-canceled|title=Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg UFC 215 main event canceled|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2017-09-08|access-date=2017-09-08}} The fight was later rescheduled for UFC 216 the following month.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/9/13/16303874/demetrious-johnson-vs-ray-borg-rebooked-for-ufc-216-fight-card|title=Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg rebooked for UFC 216|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Shaun Al-Shatti|date=2017-09-13|access-date=2017-09-13}}

A UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship bout between current champion Amanda Nunes and multiple-time Muay Thai world champion Valentina Shevchenko took place at this event.{{cite news|url=http://www.ufc.com/news/UFC-Debuts-in-Edmonton-with-Two-Thrilling-World-Championship-Fights|title=UFC debuts in Edmonton with two thrilling world championship fights|publisher=ufc.com|author=Press Release|date=2017-07-20|access-date=2017-07-20}} The pairing met previously in March 2016 at UFC 196, with Nunes winning by unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2016/03/ufc-196-results-amanda-nunes-outlasts-valentina-shevchenko-for-decision-win|title=UFC 196 results: Amanda Nunes outlasts Valentina Shevchenko for decision win|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Ben Fowlkes|date=2016-03-05|access-date=2017-05-04}} The pairing was initially expected to meet again at UFC 213.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-213-amanda-nunes-vs-valentina-shevchenko-title-fight-set-for-july/|title=UFC 213: Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko title fight set for July|publisher=cbssports.com|author=Brandon Wise|date=2017-05-12|access-date=2017-05-12}} However, the bout was canceled just hours before the event started as Nunes pulled out, citing an illness despite being medically cleared to fight.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/7/8/15941740/amanda-nunes-ill-out-of-ufc-213-main-event|title=Amanda Nunes ill, out of UFC 213 main event|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2017-07-08|access-date=2017-07-08}} Due to the cancelation of the Johnson-Borg bout, this fight acted as the new main event.

A women's bantamweight bout between Sara McMann and Ketlen Vieira was expected to take place at UFC 214, but on July 7 it was announced that the bout was moved to this event.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/7/7/15939564/sara-mcmann-vs-ketlen-vieira-moved-to-ufc-215-edmonton|title=Sara McMann vs. Ketlen Vieira moved to UFC 215 in Edmonton|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Staff|date=2017-07-07|access-date=2017-07-07}}

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos was expected to face Francis Ngannou, but on August 18 it was announced that he was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential doping violation. He was flagged after an out-of-competition drug test conducted August 10.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/08/junior-dos-santos-potential-doping-violation-pulled-ufc-215|title=Junior Dos Santos notified of potential doping violation, pulled from UFC 215|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=John Morgan|date=2017-08-18|access-date=2017-08-21}} Dos Santos tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide and his team is currently working on testing supplements as a possible source for it.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/08/junior-dos-santos-rep-team-wants-2-supplements-tested-for-source-of-hydrochlorothiazide|title=Junior Dos Santos rep: Team wants 2 supplements tested for source of Hydrochlorothiazide|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2017-08-20|access-date=2017-08-21}} In turn, Ngannou was removed from the card after promotion officials deemed that a suitable opponent could not be arranged.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2017/8/28/16218846/francis-ngannou-is-officially-off-ufc-215|title=Francis Ngannou is officially off UFC 215|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Dave Doyle|date=2017-08-28|access-date=2017-08-28}}{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/08/demetrious-johnson-amanda-nunes-ufc-215-lineup-set-edmonton|title=UFC 215 lineup set with 2 title fights in Edmonton, including Demetrious Johnson's quest for record|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2017-08-28|access-date=2017-08-28}}

{{MMAevent}}

{{MMAevent card|Main Card}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Bantamweight

|Amanda Nunes (c)

|def.

|Valentina Shevchenko

|Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47)

|5

|5:00

|For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Welterweight

|Rafael dos Anjos

|def.

|Neil Magny

|Submission (arm-triangle choke)

|1

|3:43

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Flyweight

|Henry Cejudo

|def.

|Wilson Reis

|TKO (punches)

|2

|0:25

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Light Heavyweight

|Ilir Latifi

|def.

|Tyson Pedro

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Featherweight

|Jeremy Stephens

|def.

|Gilbert Melendez

|Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–25)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Bantamweight

|Ketlen Vieira

|def.

|Sara McMann

|Submission (arm-triangle choke)

|2

|4:16

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Bantamweight

|Sarah Moras

|def.

|Ashlee Evans-Smith

|Submission (armbar)

|1

|2:51

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Featherweight

|Ricky Glenn

|def.

|Gavin Tucker

|Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–24, 29–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Alex White

|def.

|Mitch Clarke

|TKO (punches)

|2

|4:36

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Heavyweight

|Arjan Bhullar

|def.

|Luis Henrique

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Kajan Johnson

|def.

|Adriano Martins

|KO (punch)

|3

|0:49

|

}}

{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.ufc.com/event/UFC-215|title=UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2017-05-25}}

The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/9/10/16282694/ufc-215-edmonton-post-fight-bonuses-henry-cejudo-jeremy-stephens-among-50k-winners|title=UFC 215 bonuses: Cejudo, Stephens among $50M winners|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Stephie Haynes|date=2017-09-10|access-date=2017-09-10}}

• Fight of the Night: Jeremy Stephens vs. Gilbert Melendez
• Performance of the Night: Rafael dos Anjos and Henry Cejudo

• List of UFC events
• 2017 in UFC

{{Reflist}}

{{UFC Events}}

{{2017 in mixed martial arts}}

Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events

Category:Events in Edmonton

Category:2017 in mixed martial arts

Category:Mixed martial arts in Canada

Category:Sports competitions in Edmonton

Category:September 2017 sports events in Canada