Dana White responds to Pereira's complaints over Herb Dean and illegal shots in Gane loss

UFC president Dana White has publicly responded to Alex Pereira's complaints about referee Herb Dean and alleged illegal shots during Pereira's heavyweight title loss to Ciryl Gane.

Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion at 38 years old, carried a 13-4 record into the bout and made the move up to heavyweight to challenge for the title. The Brazilian, who trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of MMA's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. Following the loss, Pereira went public with his grievances, pointing to Dean's performance and what he characterized as illegal shots as factors in the outcome.

Gane, the number two ranked heavyweight out of France's MMA Factory, improved his standing in the division with the victory. The six-foot-four, 36-year-old Frenchman carries a 14-2 record and has long been regarded as one of the most technically skilled heavyweights in the sport, posting an elite striking accuracy of 61 percent and an impressive volume of 5.29 significant strikes per minute across his UFC career. His 81-inch reach gives him a physical edge that has troubled opponents throughout his run in the division.

White stepped into the debate to address the controversy directly, offering his perspective on both the refereeing and the illegal shots claim.

Why it matters

• Pereira holds the light heavyweight title at 13-4, and any controversy surrounding his heavyweight foray could affect his return and reputation at 205 pounds
• Gane moves to 14-2 and strengthens his position as the number two ranked heavyweight with the victory
• The refereeing debate keeps Herb Dean under scrutiny at the highest level of the sport
• The cross-divisional nature of the fight adds complexity to any rankings or title implications at heavyweight