Alex Pereira remains upset with Herb Dean’s officiating at UFC Freedom 250
Alex Pereira, a prominent figure in the UFC, continues to express his dissatisfaction with referee Herb Dean following an incident at UFC Freedom 250. Pereira stated that he is still upset about Dean’s handling of illegal strikes during his bout against Ciryl Gane, nearly two months after the fight.
During the fight, Pereira was knocked down by a jab from Gane and subsequently received multiple illegal blows to the back of the head. These strikes are against the Unified Rules of MMA. However, Dean did not deduct any points from Gane for these infractions, a decision that has drawn criticism from Pereira.
Pereira, known as “Poatan,” has publicly voiced his concerns about Dean’s officiating on several occasions. He believes that the referee made an error in judgment during the contest. Despite his frustration with Dean, Pereira has clarified that he harbors no ill will towards Gane, emphasizing that it is the referee’s responsibility to enforce the rules of the fight.
In a recent interview with The Mac Life, Pereira reiterated his stance, stating that he still has a grievance with Dean over how the illegal strikes were managed. He highlighted the difference between a fighter’s actions in the heat of the moment and a referee’s role in maintaining fairness.
“Mistakes happen in fights. Fighters are obviously under a lot of adrenaline, and kind of taken by the moment, so things happen,” Pereira explained, as reported by MMAFighting.com. “But I don’t think the ref has the benefit of not being in there and being emotional or anything else.”
He further elaborated on the sequence of events during the fight. “I got jabbed, I felt it, and maybe I could have recovered better. I had a lot of legal blows, then some illegal blows, and I just think the ref needs to be the one to step in and really see what’s legal and what’s not legal. That’s not necessarily the fighter’s place.”
Commitment to Heavyweight Division
Despite the outcome of his UFC heavyweight debut, which did not unfold as he had envisioned, Pereira has affirmed his dedication to competing in the promotion’s heaviest weight class. He remains steadfast in his goal to secure a championship in this division.
“The plan is to stay at heavyweight. That’s the mission I have in front of me. I want to get that belt, and I’m going to have that opportunity,” Pereira declared. This commitment comes after speculation regarding his future following his loss to Gane.
Pereira, a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, has consistently emphasized his step-by-step approach to his career since joining the organization. His initial objective was to win a belt, which he achieved. He then moved up a division with the aim of becoming a champion in another weight class, pursuing a third belt.
Even though his recent fight did not yield the desired result, Pereira maintains a strong will and enthusiasm for his upcoming bouts. He expressed confidence in his ability to achieve his goals, stating, “When I am focused on something, I always achieve it, and I will not let it escape next time.”
Future Fight Plans
Regarding his next opponent, Pereira has indicated a willingness to fight whomever the UFC matchmakers select. He is not particular about who he faces, as his primary focus is on getting back into the Octagon and working towards another title shot.
There has been considerable discussion about Pereira’s next move, especially with the state of the heavyweight division. While he could potentially wait for the unification bout between interim champion Ciryl Gane and undisputed champion Tom Aspinall, Pereira prefers not to remain on the sidelines for an extended period.
“I do not know what will happen, and I do not know how long that fight will take,” Pereira said. “For sure I want to fight before, and after that I want to fight for the belt.”
He mentioned that he has not yet had detailed conversations with the organization about his next fight. However, he is prepared to face any opponent they deem appropriate. When names like Josh Hokit or Alexander Volkov were suggested by fans during a Q&A session, Pereira responded with indifference, saying, “any of them.”
Pereira’s ultimate goal is to challenge the winner of the Gane versus Aspinall fight for the heavyweight title. He hopes to return to action in November, aiming to secure a fight before the unification bout takes place.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
