Alexander Hernandez and Michael Johnson were set to meet in the UFC debut on Paramount+. That didn’t happen, as the fight was stopped due to rumors of gambling problems.
It turned out that these rumors were correct. During the UFC324 press conference after the fightWhite revealed that a phone call made the decision to end the fight a no-brainer.
“Yes, it is,” White confirmed. “It happened again. We got a call from gaming integrity and I said, ‘I’m not doing this.’ [expletive] again.’ So we stopped fighting.”
White was then asked whether or not there would be an investigation. The UFC boss believes this will be the case.
“The FBI is already deeply into these types of cases anyway,” White said. “So I’m sure this one will be next.”
White was also asked if he knew how long the situation would keep either Hernandez or Johnson from competing. “I don’t know,” White admitted.
At this time, it is not publicly known who initiated the suspicious gambling activity. The situation is not unique to UFC officials, aside from canceling the fight entirely. In November 2025, Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle had a fight with a strange late betting move. Dulgarian lost the fight and was released from the promotion.
In 2022, James Krause found himself in hot water after a fighter he coached failed to disclose an injury prior to the fight. Darrick Minner’s fight against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke was flagged for unusual betting activity. Minner ultimately lost the fight in the first round after apparently injuring his knee. Minner’s teammate Jeff Molina admitted he bet on the fight knowing he was injured.
What is your reaction to the current gambling drama surrounding the canceled Alexander Hernandez vs. Michael Johnson fight? Let us know in the comment section.
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