Herb Dean backed by CSAC exec Andy Foster amid Alex Pereira’s harsh digs: “That looked like a normal fight to me”

Longtime referee Herb Dean has been under fire since officiating Alex Pereira’s loss at UFC Freedom 250, but he’s got some support.

Dean was on officiating duties when Pereira faced Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship back in June. “Poatan” suffered a second-round TKO loss, but he has since complained about illegal strikes to the back of the head. Pereira has gone full tilt in his criticism of Dean, even calling for his job.

Amid the harsh critiques, CSAC executive director Andy Foster told MMAFighting.com that he doesn’t think Dean made an egregious mistake during Pereira’s defeat to “Bon Gamin.”

“The thing with Gane and Pereira, I was there. I was watching that in real time,” Foster said. “That didn’t look anything different … that looked like a normal fight to me. That looked like a normal fight. I think what started that series was the punch that put [Pereira] on the ground. I know that’s what started that series. He’s obviously trying to finish him. [Pereira] is trying to get back in the fight.

“There was no doubt a few of them got through and hit [the back of the head]. The question is what do you do in that situation? Do you stop the action? Because I don’t think many referees would have, if any, certainly at the high level. What do you do with that situation? Tell me that’s not something that you’ve seen before. I think what started that series was the knockdown. That was the case.”

Dean has also faced criticism as of late for bouts outside of UFC Freedom 250. Fans took the veteran referee to task after he failed to deduct a point from Sharaputdin Magomedov in his foul-marred UFC Baku bout with Michel Pereira. “Shara Bullet” grabbed Pereira’s hair and delivered a low blow, but he only received a warning.

While the likes of Pereira, Tom Aspinall, and Brendan Schaub have expressed issues with Dean, others such as “Big” John McCarthy have cut him some slack.

Do you agree with Andy Foster, or is Herb Dean being protected by CSAC and other athletic commissions? Drop your take in the comments below.