Poatan focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Even almost two months after being knocked out by Ciryl Gane at UFC Casa Branca , Alex Poatan remains outraged by referee Herb Dean's performance. In an interview with 'The Mac Life' last Wednesday (5), he explained why he criticized the referee and spared the Frenchman, who hit him with illegal blows to the back of the neck in the sequence that ended the duel, valid for the interim heavyweight belt (up to 120,2 kg).
When asked about his feelings towards his former opponent, Poatan highlighted that Gane's mistakes could be justified by his eagerness to finish the fight, while the referee cannot afford to lose focus at crucial moments.
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“Mistakes happen in fights. Fighters are obviously under a lot of adrenaline and kind of carried away by the moment, so things happen. But I don't think the referee has the advantage of not being there and not being under the effect of emotion or anything else. I took a jab, I felt the blow, and maybe I could have recovered better. I received many legal blows and then some illegal ones; I think it's up to the referee to intervene and really assess what is legal and what is not. That's not necessarily the fighter's role,” said the Brazilian.
Alex Pereira is upset with Herb Dean, NOT Ciryl Gane
📰 https://t.co/JGs7EgG8tl pic.twitter.com/CtsAcBOXaH
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 6, 2026
Since the controversial defeat, the Brazilian has been publicly campaigning against Herb Dean, mainly on social media. Among various criticisms, he even asked for the support of other fighters to seek the referee's ban from Ultimate events.
Poatan intends to continue in the heavyweight division
Poatan and Gane face off in a promotional UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Despite the tough setback and the likely unification between Gane and Tom Aspinall , returning to light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) is not on the mind of the Pataxó Indian at the moment. A former champion in two weight classes, he remains focused on his goal of becoming the first fighter in history to win three titles in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
“The plan is to stay in the heavyweight division. That’s the mission I have ahead of me. I want to win that belt, and I will have that opportunity,” he concluded.
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