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Alex Pereira criticizes referee Herb Dean over Gane's alleged fouls

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 17, 2026, 10:54 AM

Last updated Jun 17, 2026

Alex Pereira criticizes referee Herb Dean over Gane's alleged fouls

Summary

During a post-fight discussion, Alex Pereira expressed frustration towards referee Herb Dean following his loss to Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House event on June 16. Pereira accused Gane of landing multiple illegal strikes to the back of his head during the fight-ending sequence, which he claims hampered his ability to recover. Dean defended his officiating by clarifying the UFC rules regarding strikes to the back of the head, particularly emphasizing the distinction regarding the nape of the neck. The aftermath of the fight has sparked debate among fans and fighters regarding Gane's actions, with Pereira sharing images of head swelling and calling for accountability from referees. Gane, now a two-time interim champion, is expected to face Tom Aspinall later this summer.

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•Pereira lost to Gane at the UFC White House event on June 16.
•Pereira accused Gane of illegal strikes during the fight.
•Herb Dean defended his officiating decisions after the fight.
•Pereira shared images of his injuries on social media.
•Gane is expected to face Tom Aspinall later this summer.

Latest Updates

12:16 PMYahoo Sports — Herb Dean responds to Alex Pereira: ‘I owe you guys an explanation about the rules’
10:54 AMYahoo Sports — Incensed Alex Pereira and referee Herb Dean trade words over Ciryl Gane’s alleged fouls

What they're saying

"
Herb Dean doesn’t believe he has anything to apologize about regarding his refereeing of the Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane fight at UFC White House. Gane stopped Pereira with strikes just 1:27 into the second round, but there’s a lot of controversy surrounding the finish, which seemed to feature “Bon Gamin” landing several big strikes […]
— Yahoo Sports