UFC Fighter Hernandez Breaks Silence on Suspicious Betting Activity Case

UFC lightweight fighter Alexander Hernandez has spoken out for the first time since his scheduled fight against Michael Johnson at UFC 324 in Las Vegas was called off last week amid concerns over suspicious betting activity.

Hernandez Says He Would Never Dishonor the Sport

In a post on Instagram, Hernandez explained that he would never dishonor himself or the sport by failing to give his absolute best in competition. He added that he has endured a great deal throughout his career to reach his current position and does not take it, his work or the work of others lightly. Hernandez also noted that it was extremely disheartening to have the fight called off after completing a full training camp and weight cut, particularly due to circumstances beyond his control.

The Hernandez vs. Johnson fight, which was supposed to go down on January 24 in Las Vegas, was called off due to “suspicious betting activities.” The issue was that the betting line shifted sharply toward Johnson only hours before the bout was scheduled to begin. Later, UFC CEO Dana White told reporters that the organization was t called from the gaming integrity service, and he said he is “not doing this sh*t again,” and decided to cancel the fight. He also explained that 

As White so eloquently explained, the UFC has encountered situations like this before. For example, Last November, the promotion released fighter Isaac Dulgarian after IC360 and sportsbooks flagged suspicious betting line movement surrounding his fight against Yadier del Valle. 

The FBI Might Be Investigating the Most Recent Case

In regards to the Dulgarian vs del Valle fight, White explained that the FBI is already investigating the case, and that the most recently cancelled fight between Hernandez and Johnson would be next. 

As of now, the UFC has not issued any additional comments regarding potential suspensions for Hernandez or Johnson. Hernandez wrote on Instagram that he understands both the FBI and the UFC are doing their jobs, while he is focused on returning to competition as soon as possible. He added that he hopes the situation is resolved quickly, noting that he is in the prime of his career and does not want to lose valuable time.

Hernandez started wrestling at 13 and expanded into other martial arts as he continued his education. Following his graduation from Reagan High School, he attended college and earned a bachelor’s degree in business finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is currently riding a four-fight winning streak and appears to be emerging as a dark horse contender heading into 2026.