Alex Pereira upset over Michel Pereira’s UFC release, calls out Herb Dean’s ‘mistake’

Alex Pereira expressed strong disapproval over Michel Pereira's release from the UFC following the fighter's controversial loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku. The bout drew scrutiny when referee Herb Dean failed to deduct points for repeated hair-pulling and eye pokes by Magomedov, fouls that would have resulted in a draw had they been penalized, as all three judges scored the bout 29-28. Pereira, who previously clashed with Dean over illegal strikes during his title fight with Ciryl Gane, took to social media to condemn Dean as a "coward" and criticized the UFC for releasing Pereira under such circumstances. "Paying such a high price because of a refereeing mistake is impossible to accept," Pereira wrote, adding that the situation reflects poorly on the sport's integrity. He urged the fighting community to speak out about such injustices rather than remain silent, warning that any athlete could face similar treatment. Pereira noted that the UFC has otherwise been accommodating with his requests but expressed sadness that neither the organization nor sport governance can prevent refereeing errors from damaging fighters' careers. Michel Pereira, by contrast, issued a brief, gracious statement upon his departure, expressing gratitude to the UFC for his opportunities. He compiled a 10-6 record across his 16 UFC appearances before his release.