Ex-Double Champion Joins Alex Pereira to Strongly Condemn Referee Herb Dean Over Recent Errors

UFC legend Henry Cejudo calls out longtime referee Herb Dean after recent fiasco involving Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250.

Ex-Double Champion Joins Alex Pereira to Strongly Condemn Referee Herb Dean Over Recent Errors

Henry Cejudo calls out Herb Dean's refereeing (via MMA Mania)

Herb Dean has served as one of the UFC’s most recognizable referees for well over two decades. He has officiated fights around the world, including numerous title bouts throughout his tenure. However, recent controversies resurfaced after UFC Freedom 250, where Alex Pereira repeatedly protested Dean’s officiating. This has prompted UFC veteran Henry Cejudo to call for the referee’s suspension.

Dean came under intense scrutiny after his officiating during Pereira’s UFC Freedom 250 interim heavyweight title clash against Ciryl Gane. ‘Poatan’ argued Dean failed to intervene despite repeated strikes landing to the back of his head, allowing the action to continue unchecked. The incident reignited broader criticism over Dean’s officiating, with many questioning his recent decision-making.

Dean later responded by releasing a video using a prop head to explain which areas on the back of the head were legal and illegal to strike. However, many within the MMA community argued the demonstration only reinforced Pereira’s criticism of the officiating. The debate soon drew in Cejudo, who questioned the consequences of such officiating errors while criticizing Dean’s recent performances.

Herb Dean, if you’re about it bro, make a decision. Take a point, people have lost an eye, people are losing pay checks dude, and you’re out there getting a standard pay. These guys are so afraid to take points, that it is hurting the sport of mixed martial arts, and it has to stop. You gotta suspend them, and you gotta hold them accountable.

Henry Cejudo via Pound 4 Pound Show

Another controversy emerged at UFC Baku when Dean chose not to deduct a point from Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov during his bout against Michel Pereira. Instead, Dean repeatedly warned Magomedov for pulling Pereira’s hair and later cautioned his corner following an eye poke, drawing further scrutiny.

Dean also drew criticism from UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While expressing respect for Dean, ‘Volk’ maintained that the strikes landing to the back of Pereira’s head were clearly illegal. He also criticized the referee allowing the action to continue without issuing Gane a warning.

Cejudo’s criticism also reflects his own critical experience with controversial fouls. His February 2025 bout against Song Yadong ended as technical decision loss after a double eye poke. Earlier, Cejudo had also absorbed a low blow, making the incident especially significant to his criticism of fight officiating.

Even after that fight, Cejudo did not hold back against veteran referee Jason Herzog. The former two divisional champion criticized Herzog for not deducting a point after Yadong’s initial foul. ‘Triple C’ also directly blamed Herzog for the bout being ruled a technical decision instead of a no contest.

The controversy has also reached UFC CEO Dana White, who backed Alex Pereira’s complaints about Herb Dean’s officiating at UFC Freedom 250. Henry Cejudo’s latest criticism has added further fuel to the growing scrutiny surrounding the veteran referee, keeping the debate firmly in the spotlight.

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Legendary referee comes to Herb Dean’s defense after recent criticism

“Big”John McCarthy is one of the most experienced referees in MMA history. He began officiating during the early UFC era, including UFC 2 in the 1990s. McCarthy also helped shape the sport’s unified rules while becoming a central officiating figure. He recently returned to refereeing after taking a break since 2018.

McCarthy has refereed several landmark UFC bouts involving elite fighters. He officiated early title fights such as Randy Couture vs Chuck Liddell at UFC 52. He also worked iconic heavyweight clashes including Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir at UFC 100 and multiple championship main events across divisions.

Herb Dean
Herb Dean (via Bloody Elbow)

Over the years, McCarthy has seen many referees enter and leave the sport. Among them, he has consistently held respect for Herb Dean as one of the most enduring officials. However, the two have also had occasional disagreements regarding officiating interpretations and in-fight judgment calls.

Dean has faced growing controversy over several officiating decisions. Fighters and fans have at several times called for his removal from refereeing. The criticism intensified after UFC Freedom 250 and UFC Baku. However, McCarthy has now defended his fellow referee amid the backlash.

Herb is one of the nicest human beings that you will ever find. The one thing I will say is he doesn’t want to interfere with the fight. No referee should ever want to be the difference maker in the fight… We have to be equitable, and we have to look and say, ‘What’s best for the fighters at the moment? What’s best for the sport? Was a foul committed? What did it actually do to affect the fight?

John McCarthy via The Ariel Helwani Show

John McCarthy has also faced criticism throughout his career, including former champion Aljamain Sterling, who questioned his assessment of the Petr Yan fight at UFC 273. These disputes highlight how officiating calls are often heavily scrutinized, similar to the ongoing criticism surrounding Herb Dean.

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