TLDR
- Alex Pereira was knocked out by Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 while attempting to win a third UFC title at heavyweight
- Pereira has criticized referee Herb Dean over shots that appeared to land on the back of his head during the stoppage
- Conor McGregor met with Pereira backstage at UFC 329 and advised him to let go of the controversy
- Pereira has been reposting messages calling for Dean’s firing in the weeks since the fight
- Herb Dean has faced multiple controversial calls in recent weeks following the White House event
Sources: yardbarker.com
Conor McGregor has advised Alex Pereira to move on from his ongoing feud with referee Herb Dean following a controversial knockout loss.
Pereira was knocked out by Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. The Brazilian was attempting to win an unprecedented third world title by moving up to heavyweight.
Some of the final shots that Gane landed appeared to hit the back of Pereira’s head. The former two-division champion has been vocal about his criticism of Dean’s refereeing ever since the loss.
McGregor Offers Advice to Former Champion
McGregor crossed paths with Pereira backstage at the UFC 329 ceremonial weigh-ins. The Irish fighter took the opportunity to share his thoughts on the situation.
“You’re doing great brother, keep going,” McGregor told Pereira. He then addressed the controversial stoppage directly.
Conor McGregor tells Alex Pereira he got "unlucky" with the shots to the back of the head in his last fight, but tells him to "let it go"
"You're doing great brother, keep going. Unlucky last time, back of the head, I see it. But let it go."pic.twitter.com/HsgHcdZtib https://t.co/a9xepO4EpT
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 11, 2026
“Unlucky last time, back of the head, I see it,” McGregor said. “But let it go.”
The conversation had to overcome a language barrier between the two fighters. McGregor’s thick Dublin accent likely made the exchange more challenging.
McGregor also met with his old The Ultimate Fighter rival Urijah Faber during the same backstage event. The weigh-ins gave the former featherweight and lightweight champion a chance to interact with multiple generations of UFC fighters.
Pereira Continues Campaign Against Referee
Pereira has not followed McGregor’s advice so far. The Brazilian has continued to repost messages from fans and observers calling for Dean’s removal as a UFC referee.
Dean has faced additional criticism in recent weeks. He has been involved in several other controversial calls at UFC events since the White House fight.
The mounting criticism has led to increased calls for the veteran referee to be fired. Pereira’s social media activity has kept the controversy alive in the MMA community.
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McGregor is familiar with high-profile losses in the UFC. He has suffered defeats on major stages throughout his career but is known for his ability to move forward after setbacks.
Pereira held titles at both middleweight and light heavyweight before his heavyweight attempt. The loss to Gane prevented him from becoming the first fighter to win championships in three different weight classes.
Dean has been one of the most experienced referees in the UFC for many years. However, his recent string of controversial decisions has put his future with the organization under scrutiny.
