Herb Dean addresses criticism over officiating in Gane-Pereira fight

Herb Dean defended his officiating during the UFC White House co-headliner between Cyril Gane and Alex Pereira, where Gane knocked out Pereira after landing punches deemed illegal. Dean clarified that the rules regarding strikes to the back of the head are different in MMA compared to boxing, emphasizing that the nape of the neck is what should be considered illegal. He uploaded a video to explain his interpretation of the striking zones. Pereira has expressed that he holds Dean partly responsible for the outcome, citing blows to the back of his head as a critical factor in the fight.

• 3:12 PMYahoo Sports — Herb Dean defends officiating in UFC White House co-headliner