Overview
- Ciryl Gane is the interim UFC heavyweight champion after a second-round TKO over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, but Pereira has repeatedly said several finishing blows landed on the back of his head.
- Pereira has shown close-up bruising, called for Herb Dean to be removed from his fights, and wrote that he is 'afraid' to return to competition while officials handle these calls.
- UFC president Dana White said he finds it 'undeniable' that some strikes hit the back of Pereira’s head and said appeals and referee discipline are matters for state athletic commissions to handle.
- Herb Dean has defended his calls with a public explanation of the narrow 'back-of-the-head' zone referees use, while a separate complaint from Andre Fili at UFC Vegas 119 has intensified scrutiny of Dean’s recent officiating.
- The official result has not been changed and an immediate rematch looks unlikely because Gane is reported to be scheduled to face Tom Aspinall in a belt-unification bout later this year.