The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has expressed full confidence in veteran referee Herb Dean, despite recent criticism regarding his officiating in high-profile mixed martial arts bouts. Andy Foster, the Executive Director of the CSAC, stated that Dean would continue to officiate main events in California, including the upcoming UFC 331 event.
Dean has faced scrutiny following several controversial decisions. One notable instance involved the co-main event at the UFC White House between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. During this fight, Pereira reportedly absorbed several blows to the back of his head. Following the bout, Pereira publicly criticized Dean and initiated a petition to prevent him from officiating future UFC fights.
Foster, who was present at the Gane and Pereira fight, described it as a normal contest. He acknowledged that some punches did land on the back of Pereira’s head but questioned what action a referee should take in such a situation, noting that many high-level referees might not stop the action. Foster suggested that the series of events began with a knockdown that put Pereira on the ground.
Commission’s Stance on Dean’s Role
Foster emphasized his belief that criticism directed at Dean, as well as other referees like Marc Goddard, is not entirely fair. He stated, “I think Herb Dean‘s a good referee and you’ll see Herb Dean on the main event of my upcoming UFC’s because Herb Dean is the senior referee in California. Herb Dean has my full confidence.”
The CSAC’s decision contrasts with actions taken by other athletic commissions. For instance, the Nevada State Athletic Commission reportedly opted not to assign Dean to one of the top two fights at UFC 329. According to fellow veteran official John McCarthy, Mike Beltran was brought in for the main event of UFC 329, which featured Conor McGregor against Max Holloway, even though Beltran was not originally scheduled for the bout. McCarthy indicated that this decision was made to protect Dean from further high-pressure situations following weeks of criticism.
Instead of the main and co-main events, Dean was assigned to officiate fights such as Cody Garbrandt‘s bout with Adrian Yanez and Cory Sandhagen‘s clash against Mario Bautista at UFC 329. This marked a departure from his usual role in overseeing the promotion’s most high-profile contests.
Addressing Officiating Concerns
The main criticism leveled against Dean has been his perceived leniency in penalizing fouls within the Octagon, often choosing to issue warnings rather than deducting points. Foster acknowledged this concern and mentioned that he had advised Dean on the matter. “I told Herb, in my view, you don’t want to warn a lot of times,” Foster said. “At some point, you’ve got to take the point.”
McCarthy also noted that Dean has been reflecting on his performances and considering adjustments to his officiating style. Dean’s recent controversial decisions also include Michel Pereira‘s disputed loss to Shara Magomedov at UFC Baku. Fans in Las Vegas reportedly booed Dean when he was introduced for his assignments at UFC 329, indicating a public backlash.
Despite these challenges, Foster’s endorsement means Dean is expected to referee a title fight at UFC 331, which is scheduled to take place on September 19 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
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Source: mmamania.com
