Alexander Volkanovski has come to the defense of Alex Pereira, saying the referee should have intervened earlier in the fight against Ciryl Gane.
## What happened?
The UFC featherweight champion broke down the sequence of events on his YouTube channel, explaining why he believed Herb Dean should have been more vocal.
Volkanovski recalled looking at the ref to see if he was saying anything, but Dean wasn't warning Ciryl Gane about the illegal back-of-the-head shots.
## Why it matters for Alexander Volkanovski
Volkanovski implied that Dean's failure to issue a visible warning allowed Gane to land more punishing shots, ending the fight.
The featherweight champion suggested that those shots may have directly impacted Alex Pereira's ability to recover.
## What comes next?
Dana White also pointed out that Dean should have at least tried to call out the fouls, if not entirely stop the bout, during the UFC Vegas 119 post-fight press conference.
Volkanovski's comments come after Pereira threatened to appeal the decision and urged the promotion to cut Dean for poor officiating.
And Volkanovski's argument took the issue a step further, highlighting the potential consequences of the referee's actions.
But the UFC head honcho had a more measured reaction compared to Jorge Masvidal, who called Dean “the worst referee in MMA”.
So the controversy surrounding the fight continues, with Volkanovski's comments adding to the debate.
The incident occurred on June 23, 2026, during the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Volkanovski's defense of Pereira's stance has sparked further discussion about the role of referees in the UFC.
As the situation unfolds, fans and pundits alike will be watching to see how the UFC responds to the controversy.
With the UFC featherweight champion weighing in on the issue, the debate is likely to continue in the coming days.
Volkanovski's comments have added a new layer to the discussion, highlighting the importance of referee intervention in high-stakes fights.