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Jan Blachowicz Says Pereira’s TKO Loss To Ciryl Gane Was ‘Completely Legitimate’

His remark highlights that the June 14 interim heavyweight stoppage remains the official result with no public commission action reported.

Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira face off at the UFC 291 ceremonial weigh-in. Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Overview

  • Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira by second-round TKO to win the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026.
  • Pereira has repeatedly accused referee Herb Dean of allowing illegal blows to the back of his head during the finishing sequence and has pressed a public campaign calling for Dean’s removal.
  • Jan Blachowicz publicly said Pereira ‘looked slow’ and that Gane’s victory was legitimate, noting some back-of-head contact may have been incidental because Pereira was moving.
  • No state athletic commission has overturned the result or announced discipline for Herb Dean and the UFC has said disciplinary decisions rest with commissions.
  • The dispute highlights how narrow the rule on the back of the head is, how referees must make split-second intent calls, and it could shape Pereira’s legacy and Gane’s next steps toward unifying the heavyweight title.