UFC Fighter's Terrifying Collapse Forces Fight Cancellation
In a shocking and concerning incident at the UFC 324 weigh-ins, bantamweight fighter Cameron Smotherman collapsed on stage, leading to the immediate cancellation of his scheduled bout. The frightening scene unfolded on Friday, 23 January 2026, in Las Vegas, casting a shadow over the event's preparations.
A Sudden and Alarming Fall
Cameron Smotherman, 28, had successfully made weight for his fight against Ricky Turcios, coming in at 135.5lb—half a pound under the 136lb bantamweight limit. However, as he stepped off the scales, the American appeared visibly dazed and unsteady on his feet. Moments later, he stumbled and fell face-first onto the floor, prompting gasps from those present.
The incident was broadcast live as part of the UFC's official weigh-in stream. Commentary team members, including former UFC champion Daniel Cormier and analyst Laura Sanko, reacted with audible shock. Cormier exclaimed, "Oh, no!", while Sanko uttered, "Oh, s***. Oh, my God." The feed quickly cut away from the fallen fighter to the panel of presenters, which also featured ex-champion Chris Weidman and host Dan Hellie.
Immediate Medical Response and Aftermath
Medical personnel and members of Smotherman's team rushed to his aid on stage. After initially cutting away, the broadcast returned to show Smotherman lying on his back, conscious and awake. He was then seen sitting up before being placed in the recovery position on his side. Shortly thereafter, he was assisted to his feet and helped off the stage, marking the end of his participation in UFC 324.
As a direct result of this medical episode, the bantamweight contest between Smotherman and Turcios was officially cancelled. This decision prioritised fighter safety, a core principle in combat sports, especially following such a visible and distressing incident.
Context for the Cancelled Fighters
For Cameron Smotherman, this cancellation represents a significant setback. Heading into UFC 324, he was aiming to break a two-fight losing streak, having suffered points defeats to Serhiy Sidey in May and Ricky Simon in June 2025. His sole UFC victory remains a decision win over Jake Hadley in 2024.
His intended opponent, Ricky Turcios, 32, is also on a two-fight skid within the promotion, with a recent points loss to Benardo Sopaj in January 2025. Both fighters will now have to await new matchmaking following this unforeseen cancellation.
Other Weigh-In Drama at UFC 324
Smotherman's collapse was not the only notable occurrence during the UFC 324 weigh-ins. Two other fighters, Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez, failed to make weight for their respective bouts.
Alex Perez weighed in at 128.5lb for his scheduled flyweight fight against Charles Johnson, exceeding the limit. Meanwhile, former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who has competed at bantamweight in recent years, missed his weight by 2.5lb ahead of a planned bout with Umar Nurmagomedov.
Figueiredo accepted a 20 per cent fine, with the penalty money going to his opponent Nurmagomedov, and their fight is expected to proceed as scheduled. It is anticipated that a similar arrangement will apply to Perez and Johnson, allowing those contests to go ahead despite the weight misses.
The incident with Cameron Smotherman serves as a stark reminder of the intense physical demands and risks associated with weight cutting in mixed martial arts, overshadowing the other procedural dramas of the day.
