But Dana White and Co. have given themselves a good opportunity for success.
The Gila River Arena will host a sizzling rematch between Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori for the middleweight title Adesanya won a year after narrowly beating Vettori in a three-rounder.
That fight was at the same venue on a show topped by Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
This time, it's the main event on a UFC 263 show supported by flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno, who'll run back a split-decision draw from UFC 256 in December.
Bout No. 3 is the UFC's first non-title, non-main event still scheduled for five rounds, and it pits lightning-rod welterweight Nate Diaz against third-ranked contender Leon Edwards in a match that had been slotted as the co-main at UFC 262 in Houston before Diaz suffered an injury.