The UFC made a move to part ways with three veterans on the roster on Friday, June 19. Thiago Moises was the biggest name on the list, which also included Ariane Carnelossi. The promotion also snipped bantamweight veteran Cameron Smotherman, who is unfortunately best known for his viral collapse at a weigh-in in January. Let's talk MMA.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Fighter: Cameron "The Baby-Faced Killa" Smotherman, bantamweight
• Age: 28
• Record: 12-7 overall, 1-3 in the UFC
• Why cut: Three straight losses, capped by a May KO to Kai Asakura
• Best known for: Collapsing at the UFC 324 weigh-ins in January

Why Did The UFC Release Cameron Smotherman?

Smotherman is known for the collapse, but that's not why he was cut. Before the collapse, which happened ahead of his scheduled fight with Ricky Turcios, Smotherman had lost back-to-back bouts. The Turcios fight was canceled.

Smotherman returned to the Octagon in May, where he was knocked out in the first round by Kai Asakura. The three-fight skid is what got him cut.

His 1-3 UFC run opened with a decision win before the slide, and in a bantamweight division this deep, three losses in a row is usually the threshold. The UFC regularly moves on from fighters whose results dip, even ones with name recognition. His release surfaced through roster-watch channels rather than a formal announcement.

What Happened At Cameron Smotherman's Weigh-In?

Smotherman passed out seconds after walking off the scale, and it was a scary scene. He later said it wasn't a hard cut, that he came in relatively light, and that the cause was never confirmed. Even so, weight cuts remain the most dangerous aspect of combat sports.

The moment came at the UFC 324 weigh-ins in January, on the night the promotion launched its Paramount broadcast deal. He made 135.5 pounds, then collapsed face-first as officials and medical staff rushed in, and his bout was scrapped. The clip spread across social media within minutes.

What Did The Collapse Say About Weight Cutting?

The collapse should encourage fighters to compete closer to their natural weight, but this issue is not new. Fighters and most athletes are always looking to gain an edge, and rehydration to a bigger size is seen as an edge.

The clip became fresh ammunition for critics of MMA's weight-cut culture, reviving calls for tighter fight-week monitoring, rehydration limits, or additional weight classes. Fans split over who carries the blame, from the fighter and his team to the commission and the promotion. It is a debate the sport keeps having every time a scale moment goes wrong.

What's Next For Cameron Smotherman?

Smotherman's career probably isn't over. I could see him popping up as an opponent for a bigger name early in their career with PFL or MVP MMA. A road back to the UFC will be tough, but he's only 28, so we will see.

At 28, a regional rebuild is a realistic path, and promotions like the PFL often add experienced names to test prospects. A spot on a future MVP MMA card would fit a fighter with his recognition. Whether he climbs back to the UFC may hinge as much on stacking wins as on moving past the weigh-in clip.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The card is set for WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 27. After an especially epic episode of SmackDown from Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, we know every match that will happen in Riyadh. Let's talk wrestling.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Event: WWE Night of Champions 2026 (12th edition)
• Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
• Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Start Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
• U.S. Stream: ESPN streaming service
• International: Netflix (most markets)
• Main Hook: King and Queen of the Ring finals plus an Undisputed WWE Championship triple threat

What Is The Full WWE Night Of Champions 2026 Card?

We saw a Triple Threat match for the WWE championship added in the first segment of SmackDown.

• Undisputed WWE Championship (Triple Threat):Cody Rhodes (c) vs. GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn
• King of the Ring Final:Oba Femi vs. Jey Uso
• Queen of the Ring Final:IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan
• United States Championship:Trick Williams (c) vs. Ricky Saints
• Women's United States Championship:Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
• Steel Cage Match:Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker

That makes six matches spanning both brands, with the two tournament finals carrying the heaviest long-term stakes. WWE assembled the lineup almost entirely through tournament progress and television angles over the past few weeks.

What's At Stake In The King And Queen Of The Ring Finals?

A trip to SummerSlam in Minnesota and a title shot is on the line for the winners. Jey Uso will automatically pick Cody Rhodes, or whomever holds the blue brand's title after NOC. Oba Femi will almost certainly choose Roman Reigns.

On the women's side, Liv Morgan is already the Women's World Champion, so she'll go after WWE Women's Champion Rhea Ripley, if she's healthy. IYO will likely look to run it back against Liv for her title if she wins at NOC.

Both finals reward the winner with a world title shot at SummerSlam, which makes them the most consequential matches on the card. Oba Femi's rapid main-roster ascent has positioned him as a potential first-time world champion, while Jey Uso carries heavy Bloodline storyline weight into the final.

Which Championships Are On The Line In Riyadh?

It's not old school NOC with every title in the company on the line, but there is a good amount of gold up for grabs.

The Undisputed WWE Championship headlines after Sami Zayn's actions turned the Cody Rhodes–GUNTHER Clash in Italy rematch into a three-way for Riyadh. Trick Williams defends the United States Championship against Ricky Saints, who earned the shot by winning a No. 1 contender's match on SmackDown. Tiffany Stratton also defends the Women's United States Championship against Jade Cargill, the first time that title is defended on a premium live event.

How Can You Watch WWE Night Of Champions 2026?

ESPN is the way to watch in the United States. In fact, the promotion is packing the first hour with marquee matches again for this premium live event.

Internationally, the show streams on Netflix in most markets, with SuperSport carrying it in Sub-Saharan Africa and Abema in Japan. It starts at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT from Kingdom Arena, an early bell that North American fans will need to plan around. For the full date, time and location details, the event is set for Saturday, June 27.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Josh Hokit is the unruly class clown of the UFC who won't stop with his antics until his peers stop laughing at his lame jokes.

Hopefully, we're beginning to see the smiles turn upside down. Former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion and current analyst Daniel Cormier took aim at Hokit's recent reckless and disgusting insult of former first lady Michelle Obama during his post-fight interview at the White House.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Who: Daniel Cormier, UFC Hall of Famer and current broadcaster
• What: Publicly condemned Josh Hokit's post-fight insult of Michelle Obama
• Where: UFC Freedom 250, White House South Lawn, June 14, 2026
• The win: Hokit stopped Derrick Lewis by second-round TKO to move to 10-0
• Also on record: UFC CEO Dana White condemned the remark

What Did Daniel Cormier Say About Josh Hokit?

There was a lot, but it can be summed up as follows: this isn't funny anymore. It's disgusting, unnecessary and it's going to cost you more than you'll gain.

On his podcast, Cormier called the comment "gross" and "disgusting" and stressed there was no upside to saying it. He praised the former first lady as "as classy a person as you will ever meet," arguing the jab was an unnecessary shot in a setting that called for unity. His closing message to the heavyweight was blunt: "get it together, dude."

What Did Josh Hokit Say About Michelle Obama?

Hokit targeted Obama saying the former first lady "is a man." No matter if you're a Republican, Democrat or whatever, attempting to insult someone on this level is out of bounds and as Cormier pointed out, it divides people, as if we need any help with that concept.

After the post-fight interview in the Octagon, Hokit doubled down on the insult in another post-fight interview.

The remark overshadowed a milestone night and a finish over Derrick Lewis that should have defined his story on the historic White House card. UFC CEO Dana White quickly condemned the remark, saying he hates that kind of nonsense.

Why Does Cormier's Criticism Carry Weight?

Cormier's criticism carries weight because he's not always the most outspoken person when it comes to these kinds of issues. He is often painted as a company man who plays it very safe with his commentary.

Cormier was dealing with his own X fiasco, but still found Hokit's comments important enough to address. Some might say that's strategic focus switching. No matter the motivation, his points are spot-on.

The "X fiasco" refers to a since-deleted post from Cormier's account showing alleged messages with Eric Trump about "rigged" White House fights, which Cormier says came from a hacked account he had no part in.

Speaking out still carried risk, because he knows Hokit personally and trains with him at his gym. That insider relationship, plus his standing as a two-division champion calling a Freedom 250 broadcast sold as a celebration, is what makes the rebuke land harder than the outside political noise.

What's Next For Josh Hokit?

Hokit is without question the hottest heavyweight prospect in the sport. He has also benefited from the attention his persona-filled mic work has delivered. He's been seemingly taking guidance from Chael Sonnen, someone who masterminded the bad guy role during his fight days, but never stooped to these levels of skullduggery.

As it is, Hokit seems to be lined up for a huge heavyweight clash in his next fight. It's very possible he could face Alex Pereira next in a bout that could lead to a title shot for the winner.

That persona has fueled his rise, but it also fuels the backlash. Pereira, though, is coming off a Round 2 KO loss to Ciryl Gane on that same card, where Gane claimed the interim heavyweight title, so any Hokit matchup reads as a floated callout rather than a booked eliminator.

If Hokit keeps leaning on stunts over substance, the fighting Cormier respects risks becoming the footnote.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com