Dana White Addresses Herb Dean Performance Following UFC 332

UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the scrutiny surrounding veteran referee Herb Dean following the events of UFC 332 in Salt Lake City. The conversation centers on the officiating during the lightweight matchup between Esteban Ribovics and King Green, which took place on October 3, 2026. During that contest, Dean opted to stop the fight in the first round after Green was dropped three times.

Following the event, White acknowledged that the longtime official has experienced a challenging year regarding his performance in the Octagon. The stoppage in the Ribovics-Green bout drew immediate attention from fans and pundits, and White’s comments reflect a public recognition of the ongoing discourse regarding Dean's recent assignments. King Green has also publicly reacted to the nature of the stoppage, as the fight ended abruptly following the third knockdown of the opening frame.

Herb Dean remains one of the most experienced officials in the sport, but his work continues to be a subject of intense debate within the MMA community. While White’s comments highlight the dissatisfaction currently surrounding Dean’s decision-making, there has been no official word from the promotion regarding potential changes to officiating assignments or protocols for future events. The UFC has not yet provided further details on how such officiating feedback is incorporated into their post-event reviews.

Source: MMA Mania.