Herb Dean is the worst MMA referee ever, says Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal has never been a fan of Herb Dean.

Dean is a well-known referee in the combat sports space. While he is beloved by some, others have pointed out inconsistencies in his work. Some also believe he’s even regressed over the years.

Count Masvidal as one of Dean’s biggest detractors. Speaking on “Death Row MMA,” Masvidal explained why he could never mix with Dean (h/t MMAJunkie).

“As I’ve said my whole f*cking career, Herb Dean is the worst referee to ever exist,” Masvidal said. “I mean, f*ck, bro, does he suck. Holy smokes, is he bad. A fighter, especially like Hooker, though he’s obviously on his way out, he’s not gonna quit. He’s not gonna tap. You’ve got to take that guy out.

“He’s obviously in this position for over a minute-and-a-half, and he’s eating shots the whole time, from elbows to backfists to the face, getting choked, and then now the guy obviously has no energy because it took all of it to escape the choke. Now he’s stuck in that position. He had maybe 15 unanswered shots and still nothing. Still had another 15 unanswered shots. Worst referee I’ve ever seen.”

Masvidal insisted that his comments aren’t meant to be a personal dig at the veteran referee. He even said that his interactions with Dean have been positive, but he doesn’t think much of his body of work as an official.

Dean has become a fan favorite referee due to his tenure. The first UFC event he officiated took place all the way back in 2004. Live crowds often give Dean a warm reception whenever he’s introduced at events, but you won’t find “Gamebred” bringing out the pom-poms anytime soon.

What is your opinion of Herb Dean’s officiating? Are you a fan or do you have criticisms of the longtime referee as well? Tell us in the comment section below.