Alex Pereira seminar controversy: organizer blames miscommunication

Alex Pereira faced a wave of online criticism after attendees at a London seminar accused him of refusing photos and autographs, but the event organizer says the former two-division UFC champion did nothing wrong.

Fans posted to social media over the weekend claiming Pereira cut the Keighley event short and declined to take pictures or sign merchandise. Joyagear, which organized the U.K. tour, released a statement placing blame on itself for what it called a miscommunication between its staff, Pereira, and ticketholders, according to MMA Fighting.

What Joyagear's statement said about Pereira seminar

"Alex Pereira was not at fault," Joyagear wrote in the statement. "Alex was informed by Joyagear that the Keighley event consisted of a one-hour seminar, which he delivered in full. He was not late, and he completed the seminar exactly as it had been communicated to him." The company added that Pereira had not been told fans expected autograph signings, individual photos, or additional time beyond the hour.

Joyagear said the Keighley seminar organizer had been informed of the deliverables in advance and that it was "very unfortunate" public statements blamed Pereira for the issues. The company is issuing full refunds to all meet-and-greet ticketholders and promised to review internal processes ahead of remaining tour dates.

Pereira lost to Ciryl Gane by second-round knockout at UFC White House two weeks ago in a bid to become the promotion's first three-division champion. He has since complained publicly that referee Herb Dean missed illegal strikes to the back of his head during the stoppage.

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• MMA Fighting — Alex Pereira accused of snubbing fans at seminar, organization releases statement