Herb Dean gets surprise defense from Dan Hardy amidst Alex Pereira tensions

One of referee Herb Dean’s biggest critics, Dan Hardy, is one of his biggest defenders from Alex Pereira’s criticism after UFC Freedom 250.

Former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira’s bid at history fell short as he lost to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250. In his highly anticipated heavyweight debut, Pereira lost the opportunity to become the UFC’s first three-division champ as Gane knocked him out in Round 2.

After the loss, Pereira scolded referee Herb Dean for missing multiple blows to the back of his head in the final seconds of the fight. Pereira went as far as to call for UFC CEO Dana White to step in and prohibit Dean from officiating future fights.

Despite initially threatening to appeal the bout, Pereira and his team have backed off those threats, but his stance towards Dean remains unchanged. As Dean continues to be criticized by Pereira and others after UFC Freedom 250, former UFC fighter Dan Hardy, one of Dean’s fiercest critics, came to his surprising defense.

Dan Hardy defends Herb Dean after Alex Pereira calls for referee’s ‘firing’

In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Hardy defended Dean against Pereira’s sharp criticism despite their checkered past.

“It’s a difficult circumstance. I feel for Herb,” Hardy said of Dean.

“People know my thoughts on him. I think he could do a better job. I think he could take more accountability, but also in that chaotic moment, it’s so difficult to judge the occasional illegal strike.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

Hardy had an infamous altercation with Dean after what he alleged was a late stoppage in the July 2020 fight between Francisco Trinaldo and Jai Herbert. The promotion released Hardy from his contract in 2021, and he later joined the UFC’s promotional rival, the Professional Fighters League, as an analyst.

Dean remains adamant that Gane’s elbows were legal against Pereira, despite the former UFC light heavyweight champion’s persistent protests.

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