The bantamweight matchup between Ricky Turcios and Cameron Smotherman at UFC 324 on Saturday was already going to be an interesting fight between two desperate fighters. Things have only got more interesting in the lead-up to this fight, as Smotherman’s weigh-in has added another layer of intrigue to this preliminary bout. Before the action begins at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, continue reading to get my breakdown of this fight, including my Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman prediction.
Our Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman Pick
Pick: Ricky Turcios to win by decision
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Tale of the Tape
| Ricky Turcios | Cameron Smotherman | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 32 | 28 |
| Height | 5’9” | 5’9” |
| Reach | 71″ | 69″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 13-5 | 12-6 |
Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman Preview
Ricky Turcios earned his UFC contract by winning the bantamweight tournament on Season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter and has shown tenacity and good cardio in his fights. However, his UFC tenure has been filled with ups and downs, with a 2-3 record and both of his victories coming by split decisions. Turcios thrives in extended battles where his pace and grappling can grind opponents down, but he has not yet found a clear path to finishing fights as a member of the UFC roster.
Smotherman has made noise with his striking power and aggression early in UFC competition, including a win over Jake Hadley in his debut. He has faced adversity of his own, losing his last two bouts via decision. His willingness to engage and land heavy shots makes him a threat if Turcios allows him to control the tempo. Smotherman’s volume striking and ability to land damaging blows often puts pressure on his opponents, yet when dragged into sustained grappling exchanges, his output can falter.
Smotherman is also facing adversity after a difficult weight cut that resulted in him collapsing after making weight on Friday. He is said to be fine after that incident, but it is always worth monitoring when a fighter struggles with their weight cut, as that could translate to problems on fight night.
Both fighters enter this bout under pressure. They have both lost two fights in a row and are desperate to regain some sort of relevance in the bantamweight division. A win here would be crucial for both men, as they try to justify matchups with better opponents in 2026 and beyond.
Betting Odds
- Ricky Turcios: +150
- Cameron Smotherman: -175
Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman Prediction
This fight was already going to be one worth watching and now there is even more reason to watch, given the curiosity factor surrounding how Smotherman will look after what we saw from him on Friday. Whether Smotherman is back ready to fight or not on Saturday, my expectation is that Turcios will get the win in this contest. I’d recommend taking Turcios to win this fight by decision in the second fight of the night in Vegas.
