Somewhere in another universe, Alex Pereira and Herb Dean have completely moved on from UF

A lighthearted social media moment imagining Alex Pereira and veteran referee Herb Dean leaving the drama of UFC Freedom 250 far behind has been making the rounds online, offering a brief comic break from the controversy that followed their last shared night inside the Octagon.

The clip plays with the idea of the two men simply moving on — no disputed stoppages, no explanations of the rulebook, just dancing and good vibes. It landed with MMA fans still processing whatever went down between the Brazilian knockout artist and the sport's most recognizable third man in the cage.

Pereira, nicknamed Poatan, currently sits third in the light heavyweight rankings at 39 years of age. The Brazilian carries a professional record of 13 wins and 4 losses and trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, he is one of the more physically imposing presences in the 205-pound division. His striking output backs up that reputation — he lands an average of 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 62 percent, numbers that place him among the most efficient and dangerous strikers in the weight class.

Why it matters

• The social post keeps attention on the officiating controversy surrounding UFC Freedom 250, whatever its specific nature was
• Pereira remains a top-three light heavyweight, meaning any questions about his next fight and its referee assignment carry genuine divisional weight
• Herb Dean's involvement in high-profile finishes has always drawn scrutiny; this moment shows fan discourse around his calls reaches beyond the cage and into meme culture