Alex Pereira condemns Michel Pereira's UFC release after Herb Dean's hair-pull oversight

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has spoken out against the promotion’s decision to release Michel Pereira from its roster, blaming a refereeing error by Herb Dean that he says directly cost the Brazilian fighter his contract.

Michel Pereira lost to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku in a bout marred by controversy. Dean declined to deduct points from Magomedov — known as “Bullet” — despite the Russian repeatedly grabbing Pereira’s hair and poking him in the eye. All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in Magomedov’s favour; a single point deduction from any round would have resulted in a draw.

Following news of Michel Pereira’s release, Alex Pereira posted a lengthy statement on social media. “They could have sent this guy earlier, and maybe it would have been acceptable,” he wrote. “But paying such a high price because of a refereeing mistake is impossible to accept. The UFC has already done, and continues to do, everything I ask within the organisation’s reach. But it’s sad to see this and not be upset.”

The champion also issued a broader warning to fellow fighters who stay silent on officiating issues. “Many athletes don’t say anything, but tomorrow it could be you going through this kind of situation, and there will be no point in sending me a message asking for help,” he wrote. “It’s sad that not even the UFC has control over this, and because of that, our sport keeps being tarnished.”

This is not the first time Alex Pereira has clashed with Dean. At his UFC White House title defence against Ciryl Gane, “Poatan” accused the veteran referee of failing to act on what he considered illegal shots to the back of the head, and publicly called Dean a “coward” on social media in the aftermath of UFC Baku before Michel Pereira’s release was confirmed.

In a lighter aside, Pereira also addressed his own submission loss to Gane — a defeat he has maintained came via an illegal choke — by reframing his competitive record with dry humour. “My kickboxing record is 40 fights: 33 wins and 7 losses. My MMA record is 16 fights: 13 wins and 3 losses. My Vale Tudo record is 1 fight and 1 loss,” he wrote.

Michel Pereira, who won 10 of his 16 octagon appearances, took a markedly different tone in his own statement. “I have nothing but gratitude in my heart for the UFC,” he wrote. “Everything I have and have achieved came through the UFC.”