Cigano Files Appeal In Loss To Gane

Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos recently filed an appeal with Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), demanding his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 256 be overturned after referee Jerin Valel misinterpreted the rules.

Gane landed a fight-ending elbow at 2:34 of round two.

“We have not and do not allege that the referee did not see the foul; rather, he saw the blow to the back of Junior’s head, but as a result of his misinterpretation of the rule, he wrongly failed to call it a foul, and he wrongly awarded a victory to the offending contestant, Cyril Gane,” attorney Ana Guedes wrote in a letter to NSAC (via MMA Fighting). “There is no doubt the elbow was the initial point of contact of the blow, and where Gane’s power struck – precisely, squarely, directly on the illegal striking zone.”

The Brazilian compared himself to a victim of theft, murder, or rape.

Dos Santos, 37, was released by UFC after dropping four straight fights, all by way of knockout. No word yet on where the 21-9 “Cigano” will fight next, but he’s already generated interest from promoters in bareknuckle boxing.