Alex Pereira Slams Referee Herb Dean Over Controversial Loss to Ciryl Gane
Former UFC champion Alex Pereira has strongly criticized veteran referee Herb Dean following his defeat to Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House event.
Pereira was stopped in the second round by Gane on Sunday, a result that earned the French fighter the interim heavyweight title and denied the Brazilian the chance to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.
However, the fight has sparked controversy, with Pereira claiming that Gane landed several illegal strikes to the back of his head during the finishing sequence.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pereira accused Gane of having a history of using questionable tactics and said he had specifically warned officials before the fight to monitor such actions.
“I was very careful about eye pokes and groin strikes because those things happen,” Pereira said. “But the shots to the back of the head were obvious, and the referee was right there watching.”
The former champion revealed that he had raised concerns about Gane’s fighting style during the pre-fight rules meeting and urged officials to pay close attention.
Pereira believes the illegal blows played a major role in the outcome of the fight and said he could have recovered if the action had been stopped.
He also directed his frustration at Herb Dean, saying the referee should have intervened and suggesting that officials should be held accountable for such mistakes.
Following the bout, Pereira posted photos on social media showing swelling on the back of his head and called on fighters to push for better officiating standards in the sport.
In response to the criticism, Dean released a video explaining how UFC rules define illegal strikes to the back of the head. According to him, the prohibited area mainly covers the nape of the neck and a narrow section at the rear of the head, while strikes to either side are considered legal.
Despite the explanation, many fans and fighters continue to debate whether some of Gane’s punches crossed into illegal territory.
Gane’s conduct has faced scrutiny before. In October, his fight with heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall ended in a no-contest after multiple eye pokes left the Briton requiring double eye surgery.
Aspinall, who recently returned to training, has expressed interest in a rematch with Gane and also suggested that some of the strikes against Pereira appeared questionable.
With Gane now holding the interim heavyweight title, attention is turning toward a possible title fight or a rematch with Aspinall, which the Frenchman has proposed taking place in Paris later this year.
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