Dominick Cruz and T. J. Dillashaw defend Ciryl Gane against cheating allegations

Former UFC bantamweight champions Dominick Cruz and T. J. Dillashaw have rejected accusations that heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane is a cheater. Speaking on the “Love & War” podcast, the two fighters addressed claims regarding illegal blows in Gane’s recent bouts.

Cruz addressed allegations of eye pokes, specifically referencing the UFC 321 bout against Tom Aspinall that resulted in a no-contest. Cruz stated that if an opponent manages to land an eye poke, it is a failure of the fighter's own defense rather than intentional cheating.

Dillashaw commented on the backlash following Gane’s fight against Alex Pereira, noting that illegal shots to the back of the head occurred while Pereira was moving his head. Dillashaw suggested the accusations are fueled by Pereira’s popularity and argued that referee Herb Dean has been unfairly criticized for the officiating during that sequence.

Gane was elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion status following the Aspinall incident and is expected to make his first undisputed title defense in early 2027.