The UFC 324 prelim bout between lightweight veterans Michael Johnson and Alexander Hernandez has been officially scrapped from tonight’s fight card, with the promotion confirming the cancellation just hours before the event. No reason has been publicly provided, leaving fans and analysts speculating after days of curious movement within the betting markets.
🚨| The UFC have announced that the lightweight prelim between Michael Johnson and Alexander Hernandez is OFF #UFC324 tonight. ❌
The promotion didn’t give a reason for the cancellation, nevertheless the bout has experienced some irregular betting movements in recent days. pic.twitter.com/GbXn1RRKyY
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) January 24, 2026
The matchup, initially slated for the preliminary card, raised eyebrows earlier this week when BetOnline, one among the game’s most lively sportsbooks, issued an unusual statement addressing “irregular betting movements” tied to the fight. In a post shared prior to the cancellation, BetOnline informed customers that it could lower wagering limits and take away prop bets on Johnson vs. Hernandez—rare steps suggesting caution amid lopsided or suspicious line motion.“As a result of some irregular betting patterns, we will probably be keeping the bounds lower than usual… Moreover, there won’t be props on this fight,” BetOnline’s statement read. “That is a normal measure… to guard each the bettors and the home, we are going to err on the side of caution.” The statement also emphasized that this was not a judgment on the integrity of the fighters or the matchup.
As a result of some irregular betting patterns, we will probably be keeping the bounds lower than usual on tonight’s Michael Johnson vs Alex Hernandez bout. Moreover, there won’t be props on this fight.
IMPORTANT: That is a normal measure, not a judgement on the fight’s integrity,…
— Dave Mason (@DaveMasonBOL) January 24, 2026
Inside hours, nevertheless, news broke that the fight had been faraway from the cardboard entirely. The UFC has yet to supply clarification—no update on whether an injury, medical issue, or regulatory intervention prompted the choice.
The timing of the cancellation has reignited discussion in regards to the intersection of sports betting and combat sports integrity. Similar concerns arose in 2022 when a James Krause-linked fight got here under scrutiny for suspicious betting patterns, ultimately resulting in a government investigation and sweeping betting policy changes inside the UFC.Without further details, it’s inconceivable to attract conclusions about whether these situations are connected or coincidental. Still, the optics raise questions at a time when the UFC continues tightening oversight on fighter disclosure and gambling activity.
For now, each Johnson and Hernandez remain off the cardboard, with fans left puzzled—and oddsmakers once more reminded of how unpredictable the betting landscape surrounding MMA will be.