Tom Aspinall backs Alex Pereira in criticism of referee Herb Dean

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has thrown his weight behind light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira in an ongoing dispute over referee Herb Dean's in-cage officiating, resharing the same video Pereira posted to draw attention to Dean's performance.

Aspinall, 33, is the reigning UFC heavyweight champion out of England and trains with Team Kaobon. The six-foot-five, 198 cm reach orthodox striker carries a 15-3-0 professional record and is ranked sixth in the pound-for-pound standings. His numbers inside the octagon are among the most impressive in the sport, landing significant strikes at a rate of 7.63 per minute with a striking accuracy of 67 percent, figures that place him among the elite finishers in the heavyweight division.

Pereira, known as Poatan, is the current UFC light heavyweight champion representing Brazil out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. The 38-year-old carries a 13-4-0 record and stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach. He averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, and his knockout power has made him one of the most dangerous champions on the roster.

By resharing Pereira's video without apparent hesitation, Aspinall amplified the Brazilian's concerns to a significantly wider audience, lending the criticism additional credibility given his own standing as a champion and a top-six pound-for-pound fighter.

Why it matters

• Two simultaneous UFC champions publicly questioning the same referee signals unusual unified pressure from the top of the roster.
• Dean is one of the most experienced and high-profile referees in the sport, making criticism from champions a notable moment for the officiating conversation.
• The alignment between Aspinall and Pereira, fighters from different divisions and camps, underlines how strongly both feel about the issue.