Alex Pereira Blames Herb Dean for 2nd-Round Illegal Blows, Stays at Heavyweight
Updated
Updated · MMA Fighting · Aug 6
Alex Pereira Blames Herb Dean for 2nd-Round Illegal Blows, Stays at Heavyweight
3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Aug 6
Summary
Pereira said his anger after the UFC White House loss is directed at referee Herb Dean, arguing the official — not Ciryl Gane — was responsible for stopping illegal shots.
Several blows to the back of Pereira’s head landed after Gane dropped him in the second round, and Pereira said a fighter in an adrenaline rush can err while the referee must enforce what is legal.
The controversy followed Pereira’s failed bid to become UFC’s first three-division champion, with Gane knocking him out in their interim heavyweight title fight.
Despite the defeat leaving him outside the immediate title picture, Pereira said he will remain at heavyweight rather than return to light heavyweight because his goal is still to win that belt.