Cameron Smotherman spoke out after he collapsed at the UFC 324 weigh-ins. He went on Instagram to tell fans that he is “completely okay” and “good.” This was a big relief after the scary incident. The 28-year-old fighter had a frightening moment on Friday morning in Las Vegas during the weigh-ins for the first Paramount+ card.
Smotherman made weight for his bantamweight fight against Ricky Turcios at 135.5 pounds. But seconds later, he collapsed face-first onto the stage floor as he walked toward the exit. Commentators Laura Sanko and Daniel Cormier looked shocked as cameras quickly cut away from the stage.
According to TMZ Sports, Smotherman turned to leave the stage but never made it far. He appeared unsteady on his feet before passing out and falling forward. Medical teams and UFC personnel rushed to his side within moments.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
Smotherman’s medical tests came back clear after the collapse
Smotherman’s teammate Adrian Yanez confirmed the fighter was doing well after the collapse. His CT scan and X-rays both came back clear. The only injury he got was a cut on his chin from the fall, which needed stitches.
The fighter quickly regained consciousness and was escorted away for further evaluation by medical staff. He was later taken to a local hospital for additional tests, although the UFC broadcast cut away before viewers saw him get back to his feet.
The UFC canceled the fight between Smotherman and Turcios because of the incident. The organization made the right choice not to risk his health. Similar to how Michael Irvin addressed viral sideline footage, athletes often face public scrutiny during difficult moments. The bout was slated for the preliminary portion of Saturday night’s card. Turcios, a former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, has now been pulled from the event altogether.
Smotherman said his weight cut didn’t cause the collapse. He claims he didn’t cut much weight for this fight and doesn’t know what went wrong when he stepped off the scale. He plans to get more tests from doctors to find out exactly what happened.
The Texas fighter apologized to Ricky Turcios for the canceled fight. Smotherman said he plans to return to the cage soon. The fighting community has shown strong support for him and wished him a quick recovery, much like how Kim Kardashian responded to dating rumors involving athletes in the public eye.
Carrying a 12-6 record into the week, the Houston native was set for his fourth outing under the UFC banner. He opened his UFC run with a win over Jake Hadley before suffering consecutive unanimous-decision losses, the latest coming against Ricky Simon in June.
Published: Jan 24, 2026 11:15 am