Alex Pereira rips Michel Pereira UFC release after Herb Dean controversy

Alex Pereira blasted the UFC for releasing Michel Pereira following a controversial loss at UFC Baku, where referee Herb Dean declined to deduct points from Shara Magomedov despite multiple fouls. Magomedov grabbed Pereira's hair repeatedly and landed an eye poke during their fight, yet Dean allowed the bout to continue without penalty. All three judges scored the contest 29-28 for Magomedov — meaning a single point deduction would have produced a draw instead of a loss that preceded Pereira's removal from the roster.

Pereira, the former UFC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion now competing at heavyweight, posted a lengthy statement on social media condemning the circumstances of his countryman's departure. "Paying such a high price because of a refereeing mistake is impossible to accept," Pereira wrote, per MMA Fighting. He added that the promotion has granted many of his requests but expressed frustration that the UFC lacks control over officiating decisions that damage the sport's integrity.

Pereira references own Herb Dean controversy from Gane title fight

The criticism follows Pereira's own disputed loss to Ciryl Gane in a UFC heavyweight title bout at the White House earlier this year, where he believed Dean allowed illegal strikes to the back of his head. Pereira called Dean a coward on social media after UFC Baku and has now expanded his complaint to include the fallout for Michel Pereira. He closed his statement with a joke about his own record, claiming the Gane fight was vale tudo rather than MMA and listing himself 0-1 in that discipline.

Michel Pereira, who went 10-6 inside the octagon, took a different tone following his release. He issued a brief statement expressing gratitude to the UFC and crediting the promotion for everything he achieved in the sport. MMA Fighting first reported the details of Pereira's departure and the social media exchange between the fighters and Dean. The welterweight's exit marks another high-profile casualty of a judging or officiating controversy in recent months.

Pereira has not announced his next move. Shara Magomedov is expected to return later this year.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Alex Pereira upset over Michel Pereira’s UFC release, calls out Herb Dean’s ‘mistake’ | MMA Fighting