Alex Pereira blames Herb Dean after Michel Pereira roster cut

Alex Pereira has returned to his Herb Dean complaint following the UFC's release of middleweight Michel Pereira, using the roster cut to argue that bad officiating costs fighters their jobs.

The heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion posted on Instagram that Michel Pereira paid too high a price for a refereeing error in his UFC Baku loss to Shara Bullet on June 27, according to MMA Mania. Pereira wrote that while the UFC has done everything he asked within its power, the promotion has no control over officiating decisions that tarnish the sport.

Pereira links Dean stoppage to White House loss

Pereira remains convinced he should be 13-3 rather than 13-4, still disputing the back-of-the-head blows that went uncalled in his interim heavyweight title loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 last month in Washington. Dean worked that bout and reportedly missed multiple fouls that Pereira believes changed the outcome.

Michel Pereira had his own issue with Dean in Azerbaijan, where the veteran referee handled fouls during the Brazilian's loss to Bullet. The middleweight was cut shortly after. "They could have sent this guy earlier, and maybe it would have been acceptable," Pereira wrote. "But paying such a high price because of a refereeing mistake is impossible to accept."

The champion added that fighters stay silent about officiating until it affects them directly, warning that complaining after the fact does no good. "It's sad that not even the UFC has control over this, and because of that, our sport keeps being tarnished," he said in the post.

Pereira is expected to remain at heavyweight for his return later this year, though no opponent or date has been announced.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — UFC champ Alex Pereira uses roster cut to resurrect Herb Dean smear campaign — ‘Sport keeps being tarnished’ | MMA Mania