Dana White backs Alex Pereira complaints after Ciryl Gane loss

Dana White has defended Alex Pereira's complaints about illegal blows in his second-round knockout loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House, saying the former two-division champion does not make excuses without cause.

Pereira absorbed multiple punches and elbows during a ground exchange after Gane dropped him with a jab in the June 14 interim heavyweight title fight at the White House. The Brazilian maintains many of those strikes landed to the back of his head and has criticized referee Herb Dean for not intervening. Seconds later, Gane finished Pereira on the feet to capture the vacant belt and deny Pereira a historic third divisional championship.

White defends Pereira's character amid protest

White addressed the controversy after UFC Vegas 119, acknowledging that back-of-the-head strikes occurred but framing them as part of chaotic grappling exchanges. "I think every time everybody fights, the referee should be watching everything that happens," White told reporters, per MMA Fighting. "I also think that if you watch the fights, it's undeniable [Pereira] got hit with some strikes to the back of the head but in the middle of the action when guys are rolling around, trying to get out of it, sometimes some fouls happen."

The UFC CEO stopped short of criticizing Dean, who released his own video explaining why he did not pause the bout or warn Gane. White suggested Dean could have issued a verbal warning during the sequence. But White made clear he believes Pereira's grievance is sincere. "I can tell you this: Alex Pereira is not a whiner," White said. "Alex Pereira doesn't complain about things or make excuses after fights. I have to believe that he believed that."

Pereira has called for Dean to retire and considered filing an appeal with the commission, though he acknowledged overturning the result is unlikely. White said any formal protest falls outside his jurisdiction but reiterated his trust in Pereira's perception of the fight. "Listen like I said, here's what I can tell you that Alex Pereira is not a whiner," White added. "That guy doesn't ever complain about anything so you have to believe if he's that serious about it, he's upset about it and he believes it to be true."

No rematch has been announced between Pereira and Gane.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Dana White responds to Alex Pereira complaining about Herb Dean and illegal shots in his loss to Ciryl Gane | MMA Fighting