UFC referee Herb Dean hit with widespread criticism after Baku event

Veteran UFC referee Herb Dean faced intense backlash for his handling of multiple fouls during the UFC Baku co‑main event between Shara Magomedov and Michel Pereira. Magomedov was warned for pulling Pereira’s hair and later for an eye poke, yet Dean issued only warnings and did not deduct points, allowing Magomedov to win by split decision.

Brazilian fighter Michel Pereira publicly condemned Dean on Instagram, calling him a “coward” and writing, “In MMA, there are rules. They must be applied with the same level of rigor to everyone.” Fellow UFC athletes, including Alex Pereira (Poatan) and heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, echoed the criticism, with Aspinall stating, “MMA doesn’t have ‘rules’ any more. It’s just ‘suggestions.’”

The controversy extended beyond the co‑main event: a prelims bout featured an alleged ear bite by Tahir Abdullayev that referee Jim Perdios did not stop, adding to concerns over officiating consistency. Earlier UFC events, such as Freedom 250, also saw Dean’s decisions questioned after alleged illegal strikes to Pereira’s head. While some fighters, like heavyweight contender Josh Hokit, defended Dean, the cumulative criticism has sparked calls for a review of refereeing standards within the organization.