Alex Pereira posted on Instagram after Michel Pereira was removed from the UFC roster, arguing that Michel paid the price for officiating mistakes in the Shara Magomedov fight.
Michel lost a 29-28 unanimous decision to Magomedov on June 27 at UFC Baku. He finished his UFC run at 10-6, but the final fight included repeated warnings for fouls, no point deduction, and a result close enough for one point to matter.
“They could have sent this guy earlier, and maybe it would have been acceptable, but paying such a high price because of a refereeing mistake is impossible to accept!” Pereira wrote in an English translation of his Instagram message.
“The UFC has already done, and continues to do, everything I ask within the organization’s reach. But it’s sad to see this and not be upset. Many athletes don’t say anything, but tomorrow it could be you going through this kind of situation, and there will be no point in sending me a message asking for help.” Pereira wrote.
Michel Pereira Had Already Questioned The Rules
Michel’s complaint began right after the Magomedov fight. Magomedov survived an early knockdown and won the final two rounds on all three cards, but the fight was also defined by hair-pull warnings and an eye-poke pause. Alex Pereira criticized Dean over the same UFC Baku foul sequence before this roster decision turned the argument into a bigger fighter-safety issue.
“In MMA, there are rules. They must be applied with the same level of rigor to everyone. Respecting the rules means protecting the integrity of the sport and ensuring justice inside the Octagon. My opponent was warned several times and was not punished. When a rule is ignored, the result is compromised. Where’s the criterion, @herbdeanmma?” Michel Pereira wrote after the fight.
Henry Cejudo also posted an Instagram reel questioning referee accountability after the foul controversy.
The removal was later tracked publicly by UFC Roster Watch.
❌ Fighter removed: Michel Pereira
— UFC Roster Watch (@UFCRosterWatch) July 14, 2026
Alex Pereira Says Fighters Stay Quiet Until It Hits Them
Alex framed the release as a warning to fighters who stay silent when officiating errors affect someone else.
“It’s sad that not even the UFC has control over this, and because of that, our sport keeps being tarnished. My kickboxing record is 40 fights: 33 wins and 7 losses. My MMA record is 16 fights: 13 wins and 3 losses. My Vale Tudo record is 1 fight and 1 loss.” Pereira wrote.
If Dean had taken one point from Magomedov during a fight scored 29-28 across the board, the official result could have changed to a draw. Michel had lost four of his last five, but Alex’s issue was that the roster move followed a fight where the fouls remained part of the result debate.
The UFC has not announced a reversal. Dean has continued to referee, and the broader debate over warnings versus point deductions has already stretched beyond one fight. Alex has also been told publicly that referee assignments are not controlled directly by the UFC, with Dana White previously pointing that issue toward athletic commissions.
