Featured Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Topics: UFC, Dana White, Paddy Pimblett, MMA
Ben McCrum
UFC fighter Cameron Smotherman has released a statement regarding his health after he collapsed on stage moments after weighing in for his next fight.
The UFC will make its long-awaited return late on Saturday night as the first card of 2026 gets underway inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Former lightweight title contender Justin Gaethje will face the massively popular Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title in the main event of the card.
Ahead the exciting card, the 22 different fighters from across the UFC competing had to weigh-in on Friday, including the likes of former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley and England's own Arnold Allen.
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In a shocking moment, bantamweight fighter Smotherman collapsed after stepping off the scales having successfully made weight, leaving major concerns regarding his health.
And now, the UFC fighter has finally spoken out to update fans on how he is feeling after the frightening moment.
Smotherman was scheduled to fight Ricky Turcios early on the prelims of the UFC 324 fight card, with both fighters required to make the weight limit of 136lbs (61kg) for a non-title bantamweight bout.
Of course, after the American collapsed shortly after weighing in at 135.5lbs the fight was called off.
But thankfully, the 28-year-old has confirmed that he is 'completely ok' after the incident, thanking fans for their kind words while admitting his confusion over what had happened.
Speaking on Instagram, Smotherman confirmed: “Obviously I have gotten a lot of messages and I appreciate all of the genuine concern about me. I’m completely okay. I’m good. I’m not entirely sure what happened.
"I see a lot of people online saying, ‘Oh, it’s crazy weight cuts,' stuff like that. I genuinely didn’t cut very much weight for this fight. I came in pretty low, but over the course of this week, I haven’t cut much weight."
“I’m not entirely sure what happened, and I have some more tests and stuff to take in the coming weeks to get to the bottom of it.
"But for all the people saying I must have done a crazy cut or something like that. I cut very, very little weight. I’m not sure what happened. But yeah, I appreciate the concern. I’m completely okay, and I’ll hopefully be back soon. I apologise to my opponent."
Following White's first-ever boxing event in the early hours of Saturday morning, the UFC President and CEO was asked to provide an update on Smotherman and why he thought the UFC fighter had collapsed.
"He's ok. If doctors don't know what happened, how the f*** do I know how it happened? Could be nerves, it could be a million things," White said.
"I mean, people faint at weddings. I'm glad all he got was a few stitches on his chin, he fell face first, no hands. First thing I asked was 'does he have his teeth?' added the UFC boss.
White was then asked to address concerns that the UFC does not provide enough support for fighters undergoing the weight cuts ahead of fights.
"I think you can always make improvements," he admitted.
"It's always going to be a problem with guys cutting weight, if they don't come to the PI (Performance Institute) for help, what are you going to do?
They're all grown men and women, if that's what they're going to decide to do, they're going to do it. Everybody's always looking for an advantage."