Cameron Smotherman faints on stage. A frightening moment unfolded at the official weigh-ins for UFC 324 on Friday, January 23, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, when bantamweight contender Cameron Smotherman suddenly fainted and collapsed immediately after making weight on the scale.
Smotherman successfully weighed in at 135.5 pounds ahead of his scheduled bout against Ricky Turcios on the preliminary card of the blockbuster Gaethje vs. Pimblett event at the T-Mobile Arena, but as he stepped off the scale he suddenly went weak and fell face-first to the stage. Medics and UFC staff rushed to his side, and he was eventually helped off the platform and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Video of the moment captured Smotherman losing consciousness just after making weight and hitting the floor hard, a sight that shocked commentators and fans alike. It remains unclear exactly what caused the fainting spell.
As a result of the incident, Smotherman’s fight against Turcios has been removed from the UFC 324 card, with officials focusing on his immediate health and recovery rather than competition.
Turcios had made weight but will not compete as scheduled.
Smotherman, 28, entered fight week on a two-fight skid inside the Octagon, having lost decisions to Ricky Simon in UFC Vegas 99 and Serhiy Sidey in 2025. The collapse has ignited renewed debate across the MMA community about the risks associated with drastic weight cutting.
Veterans watching the weigh-ins expressed alarm, with analysts pointing to dehydration and the sudden shift from a depleted state as possible causes of Smotherman’s collapse.
Fans on social platforms described the scene as scary and a reminder of how brutal weight cutting can be, with many calling for renewed focus on fighter safety. There was more drama at the official weigh-ins with two veterans missing weight: Two-time UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo came in at 138.5 pounds for a bantamweight bout with Umar Nurmagomedov, and Alex Perez weighed in at 128.5 pounds for a flyweight bout with Charles Johnson. Both came in 2.5 pounds over the limit for their respective contests, which will proceed as scheduled with Figueiredo and Perez forfeiting 20 percent of their purses as penalty.
As UFC 324 approaches, the spotlight will remain not only on the high-profile main card but also on discussions around athlete health and the pressures competitors face just hours before they step into the Octagon.
