Does Herb Dean suck as a ref?

UltimateGround
1

He gets a lot of hate but I think he is a good ref. Is he perfect? No. I think he does a good job over all

  • Sucks
  • Ok
  • Above average
  • Excellent
0 voters
2

He either steps in way too early or after someone’s paying the boatman.

2 Likes
3

He was breaking up clinches 2 cards ago in like 20 seconds. The dude requires 7 fouls before a point is taken. He misses the vast majority of fouls, and then only stops the fight after the fighter reacts. He was ripping a dude’s hand off the fence a few cards ago more than once in the same fight, no point.

Dude is one of the worst to ever do it. We need more Frank Trigg.

2 Likes
4
  • Cecil peoples enters the chat *

Not even close to the worst ever, but has gotten progressively worse as time goes by.

Mazagatti, Peoples, and few others from the earlier days eclipse dean.

1 Like
5

I give those early refs, even the ones who continued like John McCarthy, quite a bit of leeway for those pre-2005ish fights.

The sport was new and the rules were minimal. Commissions had different, weird rules.

Herb is the worst ref in the UFC today out of the guys who are consistently on cards.

I don’t even know who I’d say is 2nd worst.

2 Likes
6

Herb has a huge gaf on TUF last week as well. It went unnoticed, because almost nobody watches TUF.

https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/08/13/herb-dean-once-again-embroiled-in-controversy-as-the-ultimate-fighter-star-speaks-out-against-lying-ref/

Herb is a horrible ref.

1 Like
7

Mark Goddard

1 Like
8

He eats too much fried chicken before fights so when he wipes his eyes he’s blinded by grease and a secret blend of herbs and spices. It hurts his performance.

9

Sucks. I liked him at first, respected that he actually fought before. But he sucks as a ref now.

1 Like
10

Herb Dean and Mario Yamasaki are the goats

1 Like