The UFC canceled a highly anticipated bout at UFC 324, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, due to concerns regarding suspicious betting activity. Just hours before the event was set to begin on Saturday, the organization announced the cancellation of the lightweight matchup between Alexander Hernandez and Michael Johnson. UFC CEO Dana White later confirmed that the decision was made in response to unusual betting patterns.
This cancellation follows a significant betting scandal that arose in November 2025, involving a fight between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle. In that instance, the UFC was alerted to suspicious betting activity by the sports-betting watchdog Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360), yet chose not to cancel the fight. Dulgarian, who was considered a strong favorite, lost under questionable circumstances and was subsequently released by the UFC.
“It happened again,” White remarked during the post-fight news conference on Saturday. “We got called from the gaming integrity service and I said, ‘I’m not doing this again.’ So we pulled the fight.” This incident marks the third federal investigation into suspicious betting practices connected to the UFC.
In the wake of the previous incident involving Dulgarian, the UFC announced it was collaborating with the FBI to investigate these matters further. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, White has consistently denied that fixed fights are a common problem within the organization. “People are out there talking, ‘there are 100 fights flagged as suspicious,’ and that’s usual clickbait,” he stated in November. “We’re watching every single fight that happens in the UFC.”
The UFC’s increased vigilance comes as a former fighter and coach, James Krause, faced suspension from cornering after a bout involving one of his students, Darrick Minner, attracted unusual betting interest. Minner lost in the first round, and it was later disclosed that he entered the fight with a pre-existing injury.
The recent cancellation at UFC 324 highlights the ongoing challenges the organization faces in maintaining the integrity of its events amid rising concerns about betting practices. The UFC continues to monitor and address these issues, striving to ensure a fair and transparent environment for fighters and fans alike.
