Dana White defends Alex Pereira over Gane illegal strikes
Dana White defended Alex Pereira's complaints about illegal strikes in his interim heavyweight title loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House earlier this month.
Pereira dropped the bout after Gane landed what appeared to be multiple strikes to the back of the head while the Brazilian was attempting a desperation takedown. Speaking after UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi, White acknowledged the controversy but stopped short of calling for a reversal.
White's Take on Referee Herb Dean's Performance
"I think every time anybody fights, the referee should be watching everything that happens," White said, per MMA Mania. "And I say it all the time, and I'll say it again: no reffing anywhere is perfect. It could be an NBA game, it could be an NFL game, definitely some fights. It's just never gonna be perfect."
White conceded that illegal blows landed. "Well, I also think that if you watch the fight, it's undeniable that he got hit with some strikes to the back of the head," the UFC president said. He suggested Dean could have issued a warning mid-scramble but added, "I don't know."
Addressing criticism that Pereira's public objections hurt his image, White pushed back. "I can tell you this: Alex Pereira is not a whiner, and Alex Pereira doesn't complain about things or make excuses after fights," he said. "So I have to believe that he believed that — that he truly believed that was true."
Pereira floated the idea of an appeal before settling on a rematch request instead. If undisputed champion Tom Aspinall is cleared following his own injury from an alleged illegal strike by Gane, the Brit is expected to face the Frenchman next.
Original reporting:
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