Avery scary moment occurred on Friday during the UFC 324 weigh-ins, when bantamweight fighter, Cam Smotherman, passed out mere moments after making weight, whilst still on stage.
Cameron Smotherman just passed out on stage after making weight
Smotherman was subsequently helped off the stage by the UFC staff and his own personal team.
He was drinking electrolytes and responsive beforehand.
Perhaps the scariest part is the fact that Smotherman was unable to walk off the stage of his own volition, and had be carried by several other people.
Weight-Cutting Incident Shines a Light on the Practice
The UFC has come under fire from many notable figures for its tacit encouragement of weight-cutting before fights.
Unlike other organizations within the broader mixed-martial arts community, which often require a hydration test prior to the fight, the UFC weighs fighters in the morning the day prior to the fight card – giving them 36 hours to rehydrate and gain back water weight ahead of their bouts.
This practice of cutting substantial water weight has been widely criticized by both MMA personnel – including UFC commentator and podcaster, Joe Rogan – in addition to health professionals.
Cutting weight puts a vast amount of pressure on the body that can not only negatively impact performance in the cage, but when done repeatedly can often lead to further health complications in the future.
Smotherman Fight Pulled After On-Stage Faint
Cam Smotherman was set to face Ricky Turcios in a bantamweight (135 lb) bout in one of the early prelim fights.
The bout will no longer be going ahead, and given its status of being on the under-under card, it is unlikely that the UFC will look too hard for a replacement fighter to go in Smotherman’s stead, despite the fight being in the fairly accessible location of Las Vegas. Instead, it is more likely that – Smotherman’s health considering – the matchmakers will look to re-book the fight onto another fight card in the not-too-distant future.
Smotherman first entered the UFC sphere back in mid-2023, when he fought on the Dana White Contender Series and got knocked out in the first round against Charalampos Grigoriou – who himself ended up fighting twice in the UFC, losing both, before getting cut in October 2024.
Despite the loss, Smotherman emerged onto the UFC-proper scene just over a year later after three straight wins in the Fury FC promotion, finishing two of the fights – and managed a decision win over Jake Hadley in October of 2024.
After consecutive losses to Serhiy Sidey and Ricky Simon, the Turcios fight was seen by many as potentially Smotherman’s last opportunity to make it in the UFC, with a potential cut looming.
However, his future with the organization – and potentially his fighting career in the short and long term – has now been thrown into doubt. The UFC will unlikely cut him off-the-cuff straight after this medical incident, but the incident itself could have ramifications for his ability compete and fight in the future.
UFC Fighter Passes Out, Hits Floor During UFC 324 Weigh-Ins