Alex Pereira publicly called referee Herb Dean a coward over his handling of the Michel Pereira versus Shara Bullet bout. Pereira highlighted two incidents — Bullet grabbing Michel Pereira by the hair and poking him in the eye — for which Dean issued only warnings rather than deducting points.
Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira took to social media to publicly denounce referee Herb Dean, calling him a coward over his officiating of the Michel Pereira versus Shara Bullet middleweight bout on June 28, 2026.
The reigning 205-pound champion, known as "Poatan," was incensed by two specific incidents during the fight. According to his public remarks, Bullet grabbed Michel Pereira by the hair and also delivered an eye poke — both fouls that Dean acknowledged with warnings rather than point deductions. Alex Pereira made clear he viewed that response as inadequate and called out Dean by name in unusually blunt terms.
Alex Pereira, 38, carries a 13-4 record and has established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. The Brazilian fights out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach.
Michel Pereira, 32, is ranked fifteenth in the middleweight division with a record of 32-15. The Brazilian from Overcome Academy is a dynamic and high-volume fighter, landing 4.46 significant strikes per minute with 51 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, the fighter nicknamed "Demolidor" is known for his unorthodox offensive style, which makes foul calls in his bouts particularly consequential.
Why it matters
- Hair-grabbing and eye pokes are clear fouls under unified rules, and repeated warnings without deductions draw recurring criticism from fighters and fans alike.
- The public rebuke from a reigning champion puts additional pressure on UFC officiating standards and the Nevada-style approach to foul management.
- Michel Pereira's ranking at fifteenth in middleweight means outcomes in his fights carry real divisional weight, amplifying frustration over officiating decisions that may have affected the result.
