UFC lightweight Michael Johnson’s team issued a lengthy statement on the abrupt UFC 324 bout cancellation last weekend.
Lightweights Michael Johnson and Alexander Hernandez were supposed to square off in a UFC 324 undercard bout last Saturday in Las Vegas. But just hours before their fight, the UFC was notified of betting irregularities associated with the bout by the promotion’s betting integrity partner, before canceling Johnson vs. Hernandez.
As of this writing, it’s uncertain if the UFC will rebook Johnson vs. Hernandez for a later date or will move on with alternative matchups for both fighters.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed at the UFC 324 post-fight press conference that betting irregularities forced the promotion to remove the fight from the card. Hours removed from a bizarre situation on fight night, Johnson’s team has issued a statement on the incident.
Michael Johnson’s team addresses UFC 324 cancellation due to betting irregularities
In a recent statement to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Johnson’s manager, Dave Martin addressed the controversy surrounding UFC 324.
“We were obviously disappointed by the cancellation, as Michael had an outstanding training camp, but was fully prepared to compete. That said, we understand and respect the UFC’s responsibility to protect the integrity of the sport,” Johnson’s team said.
“In today’s environment, particularly with the growth of regulated sports betting and heightened scrutiny across professional sports, these matters have to be taken seriously. We appreciate the open communication with the UFC throughout the process and are now focused on having Michael rebooked as soon as possible.”
The Johnson vs. Hernandez controversy comes just months after UFC featherweight Isaac Dulgarian was cut from the promotion after betting irregularities were associated with his fight against Yadier del Valle. Dulgarian and his legal team deny all allegations and the incident remains under investigation.
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