Dana White defends Alex Pereira’s gripes over illegal strikes during UFC Freedom 250: “It’s undeniable”

Dana White has come to the defense of Alex Pereira in the aftermath of UFC Freedom 250.

Pereira was featured in the co-main event of UFC’s historic show on the White House lawn, and he competed for the interim heavyweight gold. “Poatan” stood across from Ciryl Gane, who handed him a second-round TKO loss. After the fight, Pereira took exception to referee Herb Dean’s officiating, as he believes the veteran official failed to acknowledge several illegal strikes to the back of the head.

Speaking to media members following UFC Vegas 119, White defended Pereira from those who are calling the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion a whiner (via MMAJunkie).

“If you watch the fight it’s undeniable that he got hit with some strikes to the back of the head, but in the middle of the action, when it’s going on and guys are rolling around trying to get out of it,” White said. “Sometimes the fouls happen. Maybe Dean should’ve said, ‘Watch the back of the head’ or warned him or something like that. But I don’t know. I can tell you this: Alex Pereira is not a whiner. And Alex Pereira doesn’t complain about things or make excuses after fights. So I have to believe that he believed that. That he truly believed that was true.”

Pereira has gone as far as to call for Dean to retire. He even told Ariel Helwani that he plans on asking athletic commissions to avoid having Dean officiate his fights moving forward. It’s quite the stern stance that “Poatan” has taken against Dean, who is beloved by live crowds but has often been criticized by pundits for inconsistencies with his officiating.

Do you agree with Alex Pereira expressing his frustration with Herb Dean, or do you think he’s been showing sour grapes since his loss to Ciryl Gane? Drop a comment below.