Even Dana White and Hunter Campbell couldn’t believe what they were watching from cageside on Tuesday night. 🤦♂️ Referee Herb Dean drew sharp criticism after multiple blown calls at DWCS, including a late stoppage and a missed illegal grounded knee, prompting White to publicly admit: “He f*cked up.” Pressure on Dean has been mounting for months, with Alex Pereira becoming the most outspoken fighter demanding he be removed from the UFC following their controversial clash at the White House against Ciryl Gane
Referee Herb Dean is facing fresh scrutiny after a series of officiating errors at Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday night, with UFC CEO Dana White himself acknowledging the mistakes.
Dean was criticized for multiple blown calls during the card, including a late stoppage and a missed illegal grounded knee. White and UFC executive Hunter Campbell watched the action from cageside and reacted with visible disbelief. White then addressed the performance publicly, admitting of Dean: "He f*cked up."
A mounting problem
The criticism is not new. Pressure on Dean has been building for months, and the latest errors add to a growing list of complaints about his work inside the cage.
Alex Pereira has become the most outspoken critic among fighters. Pereira has repeatedly demanded that Dean be removed from the UFC. His frustration stems from their controversial clash at the White House against Ciryl Gane, an event that left lingering bad feeling over Dean's handling of the contest.
Why it matters
- White's public admission is notable, as promotion heads rarely criticize their officials so directly.
- Mistakes at DWCS carry real weight, since the series serves as a proving ground for fighters chasing UFC contracts.
- A late stoppage and a missed illegal strike both put fighter safety and fairness at risk.
- Pereira's campaign gives the complaints a prominent voice and keeps the issue in front of fans.
Dean remains one of the most recognizable referees in mixed martial arts, but the combination of White's blunt comments and months of mounting criticism leaves his standing under pressure. The report does not indicate any disciplinary action or change to his assignments at this time.
