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Pereira KOed by Gane, claims illegal back-head blows

6/17/2026

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Summary

Pereira alleges foul

Alex Pereira was knocked out by Ciryl Gane at 1:27 of round 2 in UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026.
Pereira claims Gane used illegal back-of-head strikes, including 12-to-6 elbows, in the finish.
He blames referee Herb Dean for not stopping the fight and calls for disciplinary action.
Pereira posted swollen-head photos, demanded a rematch, and noted Gane’s prior fouls such as an eye-poke on Tom Aspinall in October 2025.

Summary

Pereira Moves

Alex Pereira may move to light heavyweight and could fight champion Carlos Ulberg.
Carlos Ulberg beat Jiri Prochazka in one round after Pereira vacated the title.
Sean O'Malley knocked out Aiemann Zahabi in the second round.
Aiemann Zahabi, now 8-3, will face the loser of Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista on July 11.
Josh Hokit KO'd 41-year-old Derrick Lewis after an April win over Curtis Blaydes.

History

Historical Context

On Oct 6 2018 UFC 229 saw Khabib Nurmagomedov defeat Conor McGregor, after which a post-fight brawl led the Nevada State Athletic Commission to suspend McGregor for six months and fine him $50,000. The event set a UFC record with 2.4 million pay-per-view purchases, creating a disciplinary precedent that now frames Alex Pereira’s claims about illegal elbows at UFC Freedom 250.

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Pereira alleges foul

Alex Pereira was knocked out by Ciryl Gane at 1:27 of round 2 in UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026.
Pereira claims Gane used illegal back-of-head strikes, including 12-to-6 elbows, in the finish.
He blames referee Herb Dean for not stopping the fight and calls for disciplinary action.
Pereira posted swollen-head photos, demanded a rematch, and noted Gane’s prior fouls such as an eye-poke on Tom Aspinall in October 2025.

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