TLDR
- Tom Aspinall described Ciryl Gane’s finishing strikes against Alex Pereira as ‘very illegal,’ claiming many hit the back of the head
- Gane knocked out Pereira in the second round at UFC Freedom 250 to win the interim heavyweight title
- Referee Herb Dean did not warn Gane or pause the action during the controversial finishing sequence
- Alex Pereira released a YouTube video accusing Gane of landing ‘dirty shots’ and having a history of illegal strikes
- Gane has faced similar accusations in previous fights against Tom Aspinall and Junior dos Santos
Sources: DAZN | Heavy.com | Yahoo Sports | talkSPORT
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has sparked fierce debate over Ciryl Gane’s second-round TKO victory against Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. Aspinall publicly questioned how many of Gane’s finishing strikes would be considered legal under current rules.
Gane knocked out Pereira in the second round of their interim heavyweight title bout at the White House on June 14. After controlling the first round with effective striking, Gane dropped Pereira with a jab in the second round and followed up with heavy ground strikes.
Several of those strikes appeared to land on the back of Pereira’s head during the finishing sequence. Referee Herb Dean did not issue any warnings to Gane or stop the action to address potential fouls.
Pereira managed to return to his feet but Gane finished the fight with more punches shortly afterward. The Frenchman claimed the interim UFC heavyweight championship with the victory.
ðŸ˜ðŸ˜³ You can count 11 back of the head shots from Ciryl Gane here. pic.twitter.com/8ZtFioJRHJ
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 15, 2026
Pereira Calls Out ‘Dirty Shots’
Two days after the fight, Pereira posted a video on his YouTube channel blasting Gane for what he called ‘dirty shots’ to the back of his head. He claimed Gane has a history of landing illegal strikes in his fights.
“It was a lucky jab and he took advantage… that was the opportunity of a lifetime for him,” Pereira said in the video. “This guy has a long history of it. Dirty shots, punches to the back of the head.”
Pereira said he warned Dean before the fight to watch for illegal strikes from Gane. “If you watch the footage man, multiple shots, multiple elbows (to the back of the head),” Pereira continued.
He also posted images showing marks on the back of his head after the fight. Pereira called Dean’s performance unacceptable and said the referee should face punishment.
Aspinall’s comments have fueled online debate about whether Gane’s strikes violated UFC rules. Some observers agree the shots were illegal, while others argue most were glancing blows or legal strikes during a chaotic exchange.
Gane’s History of Controversial Strikes
This is not the first time Gane has faced accusations of illegal strikes. In his fight against Aspinall at UFC 321 last year, Gane poked Aspinall in the eye, resulting in a No Contest.
Gane also appeared to land an illegal elbow to the back of Junior dos Santos’ head before finishing him by TKO in 2020. Dos Santos appealed the outcome but the loss stood and Gane’s knockout victory remained on the books.
Gane’s camp has defended the strikes against Pereira as accidental contact during a fast-paced finishing sequence. They maintain the blows were part of a legitimate flurry in real time.
Despite Pereira’s protests, he will not receive an immediate rematch with Gane. The interim champion is expected to face Aspinall later this year in a unification bout for the undisputed UFC heavyweight title.
Commissions rarely overturn fight results in situations involving disputed strikes, making a reversal of the TKO highly unlikely. Pereira’s team could file an official appeal but such efforts typically do not succeed.
Pereira has not announced whether he will remain at heavyweight or return to the light heavyweight division where he previously held the title. A rematch with new light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg could be an option if he moves back down in weight.
