A bout between Junior dos Santos and Shane Carwin will headline the event. The winner of the fight is expected to face off against current UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez. Brock Lesnar was scheduled to fight Dos Santos after their coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter 13, but due to a recurrence of diverticulitis, had to back out of the fight and was quickly replaced by Carwin.Originally, a matchup between Carwin and Jon Olav Einemo was scheduled for this event. Einemo will remain on the card and now be fighting Dave Herman, who was pulled from a matchup with Joey Beltran as a result. Beltran will now be matched up against Aaron Rosa.
Court McGee was scheduled to fight Jesse Bongfeldt, but was forced to pull out due to a torn MCL while training with the Cesar Gracie’s camp. Chris Weidman is set to step in as McGee's replacement.
Rani Yahya was scheduled to take on Dustin Poirier at this event, but withdrew due to injury on May 3, 2011. Jason Young has stepped in as Yahya's replacement.
Anthony Perosh was expected to face Krzysztof Soszynski at this event, but Perosh was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Igor Pokrajac.
On May 17, a torn muscle forced Mac Danzig out of his bout with Donald Cerrone.Promotional newcomer Vagner Rocha is set to replace Danzig.
UFC newcomer Dave Herman was originally slated to face Rob Broughton at this event, but Broughton was later replaced by Joey Beltran, who was later replaced with Jon Olav Einemo since Carwin replaced an injured Lesnar.
UFC 131 will feature two preliminary fights live on Spike TV.
Posted in: UFC 131