Ali Akbar Rosady
Alex Pereira, the former light heavyweight and middleweight champion, has vehemently expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating in his recent loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House, a bout that saw his historic quest for a third divisional title end in a second-round knockout. Pereira specifically targeted veteran referee Herb Dean, accusing him of failing to intervene during a flurry of strikes he claims were illegal and directly contributed to the fight’s stoppage.
The highly anticipated interim heavyweight championship contest unfolded on Sunday, with Gane securing the victory. While Gane appeared to control much of the early exchanges, landing effective strikes and dictating the pace, the finishing sequence has become a focal point of controversy. Fans and analysts were quick to highlight footage suggesting that some of Gane’s decisive blows connected with the back of Pereira’s head as the Brazilian fighter was attempting to recover.
In his inaugural public statement following the defeat, Pereira launched a scathing critique of Dean’s performance, asserting that the referee’s inaction was a dereliction of duty. "Putting myself in the referee’s shoes, my opponent’s there and catches me, I drop, he starts striking," Pereira explained, detailing his perspective on the critical moment. "The ref is watching that they are illegal shots, but he thinks like this, ‘How am I going to stop this fight?’ It’s illegal, it’s in the rules. You’re not going to be wrong if you stop it. It’s in the rules; you stop it."
Pereira’s frustration escalated as he questioned Dean’s professional integrity. "If people say, ‘Why did you stop it?’ Look at the video; nobody was going to say anything about the ref. In that scenario, people give him credit as a man. But now he is not a man. He shouldn’t have been refereeing that fight." The Brazilian striker did not mince words, suggesting that Dean’s perceived failure warranted severe repercussions. "To be honest, a guy like that should be punished. That’s how it is. It’s a very serious job. It’s a very serious event. What happened, the ref should’ve faced legal consequences for that."
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The rules of mixed martial arts, as sanctioned by athletic commissions globally, explicitly prohibit strikes to the back of the head, often defined as the area behind the ears to the crown of the head. This regulation is in place to protect fighters from potentially debilitating injuries, including severe concussions and other forms of brain trauma, given the vulnerability of that region. Referees are tasked with immediately halting action or issuing warnings/deductions when such fouls occur, particularly if they are deemed intentional or impact the outcome of the fight. Herb Dean is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and respected referees in the sport, having overseen countless high-profile bouts throughout his career, which makes Pereira’s sharp criticism particularly notable.
Adding a layer of pre-existing concern to Pereira’s post-fight grievances, he revealed that he had proactively addressed the potential for Gane to commit fouls with Dean prior to the fight. Gane’s in-cage tactics have drawn scrutiny on multiple occasions, establishing a pattern that Pereira sought to highlight. Notably, in his previous bout at UFC 321, Gane was involved in a controversial incident where he poked undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in the eye, leading to that contest being declared a no-contest. Furthermore, former UFC champion Junior dos Santos publicly accused Gane of landing an illegal elbow to the back of his head during their December 2020 encounter, a fight Gane won via TKO. These prior incidents, according to Pereira, should have prompted increased vigilance from the officiating team.
Pereira recounted the sequence of events that led to the stoppage, admitting he was initially rocked by a legitimate jab from Gane. However, he maintained that his opponent subsequently capitalized on his compromised state with illegal strikes. "After the jab I dropped, I grabbed his legs," Pereira described. "It was there, throwing elbows, punches, he’s desperate. He threw a shot he didn’t even believe in, and he wanted to finish the fight in whatever way. He always does that, multiple fights, if you look at his highlights, that’s what you’ll see all the time. I was being very careful about that."
He acknowledged the inherent physicality of MMA, stating, "Finger in the eye, kick to the groin, that there isn’t supposed to happen, but it does. Even I could potentially do that, but not because I meant to." However, he drew a clear distinction regarding strikes to the back of the head, emphasizing the referee’s responsibility. "It’s a contact sport, but on the back of the head? You’re right there, man, you have to be seeing it. But that was the opportunity of a lifetime for him, and the referee was right there to see it."
Pereira reiterated his pre-fight efforts to alert officials. "The day before the fight, we had a rules meeting. I asked [coach] Plinio [Cruz] to translate for him, and I told him, ‘Look, man, eye poke, groin strikes, those things can happen. It’s not supposed to, but it can happen. But this guy has a long history of it.’ Dirty shots, throwing punches to the back of the head, elbows. I saw some videos, so I was worried. So I brought that up with him ahead of time and asked him to keep an eye on it."
Despite his proactive communication, Pereira believes his concerns were ultimately unheeded, and the outcome of the fight was directly influenced by the uncalled fouls. "If you watch the footage, multiple shots there, multiple elbows," Pereira asserted. "OK, sure, the jab, but given everything that happened, illegal. I was getting up, it became difficult to recover, but I believe that if it wasn’t for those shots I [wouldn’t] be in that situation and could’ve possibly recovered. Maybe not, but they were very hard shots and illegal."
Further bolstering his claims, Pereira subsequently posted images on his social media platforms displaying visible lumps and bruising on the back of his head, seemingly corroborating his account of the illegal blows he sustained.
The loss carries significant implications for Pereira’s career trajectory. Not only did it deny him the unprecedented achievement of becoming the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion – a feat that would have etched his name into the annals of combat sports history alongside his middleweight and light heavyweight titles – but it also jeopardizes a potential future showdown with Tom Aspinall. A highly anticipated bout against Aspinall, who is currently recuperating from the eye injuries sustained in his controversial fight with Gane, was a strong possibility for Pereira should he have secured the interim heavyweight title.
In light of these developments, Pereira has already initiated discussions with the UFC hierarchy, advocating for an immediate rematch against Gane. "After the event, we were in the hotel, manager, I got a call, we’ve already spoken," Pereira stated. "The next step, I explained to them, I spoke about the illegal shots, and it was a fight that was good, and the tendency to grow the show, it was starting up. I said the right thing is an immediate rematch."
The organization, according to Pereira, has acknowledged his request but has asked for time to deliberate on the matter, given the recency of the event and the various factors at play in the heavyweight division. "I spoke to the organization, and they asked for some time to get an answer because so much was happening. The event had just happened. They are going to see what they are going to do. I’m going to wait a bit, but very soon, we will have an answer."
Despite the disappointment and controversy surrounding his latest outing, Pereira remains resolute about his decision to ascend to the heavyweight division. "Poatan," as he is known, has consistently defied expectations since his UFC debut in 2021. After a decorated kickboxing career, he rapidly captured two UFC titles within just seven fights, showcasing an unparalleled ability to adapt and conquer new challenges.
For Pereira, this latest move up in weight class was simply another calculated risk in a career defined by bold choices. "Like I said in the octagon, if I hadn’t taken a risk every time I fought, I would not be who I am today," Pereira affirmed. "Third belt, nobody has done it. Nobody. Coming from middleweight, light heavyweight, then heavyweight, it’s very difficult, but within reality. Obviously, for some mistakes, it wasn’t this time, but those of you who know me know how I come back. I will be back stronger."
Reflecting on his preparation and performance, Pereira expressed confidence in his training regimen. "In respect to training, do I need to change my training? I think I did everything right. I was good in the fight. The strategy was being put into practice, all the ideas me and my team had, it is what it is. Risks are there. The payoff in the fight game is a bit complicated. The time can come for something good, other times bad, that’s how it is. But like I said, for those who know me, be certain in how I’ll return. I’ll be back stronger, focused like always, dedicated like always, that’s it. I’m happy. I’m happy with everything." His statement underscores a resilient spirit, suggesting that while the immediate outcome was unfavorable and controversial, his ambition and dedication remain undimmed as he looks towards his next challenge in the elite ranks of the UFC.
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