The controversy surrounding UFC Freedom 250 continues to grow. Just days after suffering a second-round TKO loss to Ciryl Gane in the co-main event at the White House, former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira has publicly accused Gane of landing illegal strikes to the back of his head and criticized referee Herb Dean for failing to intervene.
The defeat ended Pereira’s bid to become the first fighter in UFC history to win championships in three different weight classes. Now, Pereira believes the outcome may have been influenced by fouls that went unaddressed.
Pereira Speaks Out
In a video posted to social media Tuesday, Pereira detailed his frustrations with how the fight was officiated. The Brazilian pointed specifically to the sequence following Gane’s knockdown jab in the second round.
After being dropped, Pereira grabbed onto Gane’s legs as the French heavyweight attempted to finish the fight with a barrage of elbows and punches. According to Pereira, several of those strikes landed illegally.
“I think if it weren’t for those punches, I wouldn’t be in that situation,” Pereira said. “When the jab landed, I fell and grabbed his legs. Throwing elbows and punches, the guy was desperate. He landed a punch that he couldn’t even believe, and then he wanted to end the fight no matter what.”
Criticism Directed at Herb Dean
Alex Pereira’s criticism wasn’t limited to Gane. The former champion also questioned why veteran referee Herb Dean failed to stop the action when the alleged fouls occurred.
“The ref was there watching,” Pereira said. “The guy sees it’s an illegal hit, but he’s there thinking, ‘Bro, how can I stop this fight?’”
Pereira went on to argue that the referee had a responsibility to enforce the rules regardless of the circumstances. “It’s the regulations. It’s in the rulebook,” Pereira continued. “You’re wrong if you don’t stop the illegal strikes. That’s in the rules.”
Perhaps Pereira’s strongest comments came when discussing his interactions with the referee prior to the fight. The Brazilian claimed he had specifically raised concerns about illegal strikes before entering the Octagon.
“What makes me more upset is that I warned him beforehand,” Pereira said. “But the guy doesn’t have the guts. He’s not a real man.” The remarks represent one of Pereira’s most direct criticisms of officiating since joining the UFC.
Tom Aspinall Also Raised Concerns
Alex Pereira wasn’t the only heavyweight who questioned the legality of the finishing sequence. Undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall reacted to the fight during a live stream and appeared concerned about several of the strikes landing behind the head.
“They look a bit illegal,” Aspinall said. “They look very illegal. What is going on?”
Aspinall’s comments quickly circulated online and added fuel to the growing debate among fans and analysts.
Gane’s History Under Scrutiny
The controversy has also renewed discussion surrounding previous incidents involving Gane. In 2020, Gane faced criticism following a TKO victory over Junior Dos Santos after several observers questioned strikes that landed near the back of the head.
More recently, Gane was involved in an accidental eye-poke against Aspinall during their heavyweight title clash, which ultimately resulted in a no contest after Aspinall was unable to continue.
Aspinall later underwent eye surgery and has yet to receive full medical clearance. While neither incident resulted in disciplinary action, both have resurfaced as fans review footage from UFC Freedom 250.
Ciryl Gane Dominates Alex Pereira, Captures Interim Heavyweight Title at UFC Freedom 250
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
