UFC fighter Alex Pereira has hit out at referee Herb Dean for not pausing his fight with Ciryl Gane, alleging that the referee overlooked numerous 'illegal' strikes. The controversy has sparked a heated debate in the MMA community, with Pereira taking to social media to express his disappointment and frustration.
Pereira, a former middleweight champion and two-time light-heavyweight champion, was defeated by Gane in the second round of their fight at the UFC's White House event. The Brazilian fighter believes that Gane landed several blows to the back of his head, which he claims are 'illegal' under UFC rules.
Dean has since responded to Pereira's claims, explaining the rules and the reasoning behind his decision not to pause the fight. However, some fans have accused Gane of hitting the areas that Dean had labelled as 'illegal'.
The fallout from the fight has been intense, with Pereira calling out both Gane and Dean. He has also shared images of swelling on the back of his head, writing on Instagram that 'this will only change when the fighters fight to remove the referee who makes these kinds of mistakes'.
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of refereeing in the UFC and the need for greater clarity around the rules.