Once Again: UFC 324 Cancels Fight Over Suspicious Betting

UFC 324 saw a last-minute fight cancellation on Saturday, January 24, with president Dana White now confirming the reason behind the controversial decision. 

The lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Michael Johnson was pulled after the Gaming Integrity Service, responsible for closely monitoring wagering patterns for irregularities, alerted the UFC regarding unusual betting activity. 

“It Happened Again.”

“Yeah, that’s what it is, [a wagering flag],” White said during a post-fight press conference. 

“It happened again. We got called by the Gaming Integrity Service and I said, ‘I’m not doing this shit again.’ So we pulled the fight.” The 56-year-old chose not to elaborate further on the fighters themselves but made sure to confirm that the decision was a direct result of concerns regarding betting integrity.

Sportsbooks had noticed a significant swing in the betting line on Saturday, with Johnson’s odds shifting dramatically from +132 to -102, which prompted many websites to either limit or completely suspend action on the fight. 

White’s decision to cancel the event comes to show just how seriously the UFC is now treating wagering red flags, particularly after a string of controversial fights in recent years.

Not Their First Rodeo

This is not the first time the UFC has faced suspicions of potential fight manipulation. In 2022, Darrick Minner lost quickly to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke in a fight that drew attention because of large late bets on Nuerdanbieke. 

The situation escalated when Minner’s coach, James Krause, was involved in a scheme involving betting tips and insider information. 

Then in 2025, Isaac Dulgarian lost a similarly short fight to Yadier del Valle, which also followed unusual betting patterns. Both cases drew scrutiny from sportsbooks and, reportedly, the FBI, though UFC decisions on those bouts differed.

Leaving Past Mistakes Behind

While fights were allowed to continue as scheduled on previous occasions, the UFC’s latest call to drop the Johnson vs. Hernandez bout comes to reiterate the organization’s more cautious approach. 

White explained the UFC is determined not to repeat past mistakes and show zero tolerance for activities that could jeopardize the integrity of fights.

“Anyone can win a fight, but when you see this stuff happening, it’s not worth taking the risk,” White added, further emphasizing the need to protect both the fighters and the sport. 

The Hernandez-Johnson matchup will not be rescheduled for UFC 324, and fans will now have to wait to see how the UFC addresses the situation moving forward.