Referee Explains Controversial UFC Back-of-Head Punches

Herb Dean, the referee for the Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane bout at UFC White House, has defended his officiating of the controversial stoppage. Gane defeated Pereira via strikes early in the second round, but the finish ignited debate over alleged illegal blows to the back of Pereira's head.

Pereira himself released a video complaining about these strikes, stating he had warned Dean and accusing the referee of "not being a man." Dean responded by releasing his own video to clarify the rules. He explained that the UFC rule focuses on the nape of the neck, defining a foul area that includes the spine and a specific width, distinguishing it from boxing's rules.

Dean illustrated that strikes to the sides of the back of the head are considered legal blows, while the nape area is off-limits. He hopes this explanation clarifies the officiating. A slow-motion review of the fight's conclusion shows that most of Gane's punches and elbows landed within the legal parameters Dean described, although a couple of strikes may still have been illegal.