TLDR
- Dana White physically intervened when Derrick Lewis and Waldo Cortes-Acosta pushed each other at UFC 324 weigh-ins
- The confrontation reportedly escalated after Lewis made insulting comments about Cortes-Acosta’s mother
- Both heavyweights successfully made weight and will fight Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- UFC 324 marks the first event under the organization’s new $7.7 billion Paramount+ broadcast deal
- The card lost two fights, including one after Cameron Smotherman collapsed at weigh-ins
Sources: MMA Mania | Review Journal | Cageside Press
UFC President Dana White had to physically intervene Friday when heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Waldo Cortes-Acosta pushed each other during their final face-off before UFC 324. The tense moment unfolded on stage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the official weigh-ins.
Both fighters successfully made weight for their scheduled bout on Saturday’s main card. Lewis, who holds a 29-12 record, will face Cortes-Acosta (16-2) in what has become a personal rivalry.
Michael Bisping, commenting on the incident, said the conflict became heated after Lewis allegedly made insulting remarks about Cortes-Acosta’s mother. The comment appears to have escalated tensions between the two heavyweights beyond typical pre-fight promotion.
White stepped in as the fighters began shoving on stage. Security personnel also moved in to separate the pair as the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.
UFC 324 Marks New Broadcasting Era
The altercation comes ahead of a historic event for the UFC. Saturday’s card represents the first under the organization’s new $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount+ over seven years.
Under the new agreement, all UFC events will stream exclusively on Paramount+. This marks the end of the traditional pay-per-view model for numbered UFC events.
The main card begins at 6 p.m., with early preliminary fights starting at 2 p.m. Lewis and Cortes-Acosta will compete early on the main card portion of the event.
Fighter Pay Controversy Surrounds Event
The Lewis-Cortes-Acosta bout shares the card with an interim lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje in the main event. Gaethje publicly criticized the UFC this week, claiming he would not receive additional compensation despite the new broadcast deal.
White responded to Gaethje’s comments during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He said the UFC has a system in place to compensate fighters proportionally to the new deal and claimed Gaethje was offered more money but never responded.
During the final pre-fight press conference, Lewis himself asked White to increase performance bonuses from the standard $50,000 to $324,000. White did not commit to that specific number but agreed to raise bonuses for the event.
The card has faced some setbacks. A planned bout between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison was canceled after Harrison underwent neck surgery during training camp.
Another fight was pulled Friday after bantamweight Cameron Smotherman collapsed face-first following his weigh-in. Smotherman had just stepped off the scale at 135.5 pounds when he stumbled and fell.
His scheduled fight against Ricky Turcios was immediately canceled. The incident occurred during the same weigh-in session as the Lewis-Cortes-Acosta confrontation.
The remaining main card includes Sean O’Malley versus Song Yadong at bantamweight and a women’s flyweight bout between Natalia Silva and former champion Rose Namajunas. Arnold Allen will face Jean Silva in a featherweight contest to open the main card.
Both Lewis and Cortes-Acosta will enter the octagon Saturday after making weight without issue, despite the heated exchange that required White’s direct intervention.
