Opinion: The UFC has a refereeing problem, and Herb Dean is at the center of it

A opinion piece published on July 3, 2026 by Dayne Fox argues that the UFC has a significant refereeing problem, with veteran referee Herb Dean repeatedly at the center of controversies. The author calls for the implementation of formal referee review processes in mixed martial arts, citing Dean's recurring mistakes as evidence that the current system is failing. The article, originally published on Sherdog.com, notes that despite ongoing criticism, no meaningful changes have been made to address refereeing standards in the UFC.