UFC’s Cameron Smotherman Collapses After Weight Cut

UFC’s Cameron Smotherman Collapses After weigh-In; Fight Canceled

A concerning health scare has shaken the UFC ahead of Saturday’s event, as bantamweight Cameron Smotherman collapsed shortly after making weight for his scheduled bout against Ricky Turcios.

LAS VEGAS – A planned matchup at UFC 324 has been abruptly canceled after Cameron Smotherman experienced a medical issue immediately following his weigh-in on Friday. The 30-year-old Smotherman (12-6) successfully registered at 135.5 pounds, but subsequently fell to the floor after stepping away from the scale at T-Mobile Arena. Medical personnel attended to him, and he was carried from the platform.

Smotherman later addressed the incident in a video statement, assuring fans he is “fully OK” and “hopefully be back soon.” he expressed confusion regarding the collapse, stating, “I’m not entirely sure what happened… I genuinely didn’t cut vrey much weight for this fight.I came in pretty low, but even over the course of this week I haven’t cut much weight.” He added that he will undergo further testing “in the coming weeks to get to the bottom of it.”

Did you know? – Weight cutting is a common practice in combat sports, but it can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and potentially serious health complications. Fighters aim to rehydrate quickly after weigh-in.

The incident raises renewed questions about the extreme practice of weight cutting in mixed martial arts. It is indeed a common,though frequently enough hazardous,strategy for fighters to shed more than 10% of their body weight in the days leading up to a weigh-in,then rapidly rehydrate to compete at a higher weight class.

The UFC has yet to release an official update on Smotherman’s condition. He has a 1-2 record in his three appearances within the association.

Pro tip – Fighters frequently enough use saunas,water restriction,and controlled exercise to reduce weight. these methods can strain the cardiovascular system and kidneys, increasing health risks.

Adding to the weigh-in drama, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 pounds for his highly anticipated fight against Umar Nurmagomedov on Saturday’s card. Fellow flyweight Alex Perez also failed to meet the 125-pound limit, coming in 2.5 pounds over for his contest against Charles Johnson. Both Figueiredo and Perez will be penalized with a 25% deduction from their purses, but their respective fights will proceed as scheduled.

This series of events underscores the inherent risks associated with weight management in combat sports and will likely fuel further debate about the safety protocols surrounding the practice.

Reader question – What changes, if any, should the UFC implement to better protect fighters from the dangers of extreme weight cutting? Share your thoughts.