Following UFC 326, Dana White addressed and dismissed a baseless rumor.
During Saturday’s event, Michael Johnson competed against Drew Dober in the Octagon, ultimately enduring a severe knockout defeat in the second round. Before the match, an X (formerly Twitter) post circulated, making a grave allegation that Johnson’s nephew had been taken captive.
“Michael Johnson was supposedly compensated to intentionally lose via R2 TKO today, with the Gangster Disciples, a St. Louis, Missouri-based gang, reportedly holding his nephew hostage,” the X account asserted.
Given that Johnson indeed lost in the second round, proponents of the conspiracy theory started disseminating their views across social media platforms, even though Johnson was clearly rendered unconscious.
At the UFC 326 post-fight press conference, White unequivocally debunked the preposterous speculation (as reported by MMAMania).
“There was absolutely no [truth] to it. None. Zero,” White stated. “Just a strange message someone put out about a child being abducted and other wild stuff. Completely false.”
A factor contributing to some individuals believing this rumor stemmed from the cancellation of Johnson’s scheduled UFC 324 bout against Alexander Hernandez. This occurred after White received intelligence concerning unusual betting patterns surrounding that match. Instead of proceeding with any potential risk, the premier MMA organization opted not to hold the fight.
Recently, controversies involving wagers have significantly impacted the mixed martial arts community. A notable recent event involved Isaac Dulgarian’s release from the UFC due to questionable betting patterns identified after his most recent contest. Significant late-stage wagers placed on Dulgarian’s rival, Yadier del Valle, triggered red flags.
Dulgarian suffered a submission loss in the first round, leading even UFC commentators to express doubts about the fight’s progression. Currently, Dulgarian faces a suspension issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
When you initially encountered the Michael Johnson speculation, did you find it credible? Do you accept Dana White’s assertion that the rumor lacks veracity? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
