Herb Dean Biography
Herb Dean is an American professional mixed martial arts referee and former mixed martial artist who was born and brought up in Pasadena, California, United States of America. He is widely known for working events put on by the Ultimate Fighting Championship and ONE Championship promotions, among others.
Dean have been called the gold standard for referees in MMA by UFC president Dana White, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, articles covering MMA in ESPN.com, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, SB Nation (mmamania.com), Fightland and other publications
Dean’s journey in the world of MMA began as a fighter himself. He competed in the heavyweight division for several years before transitioning to officiating in 2004. His calm demeanor, decisive interventions, and unwavering commitment to fighter safety quickly earned him the respect of fighters, fans, and promoters alike.
10 Quick Facts About Herb Dean
- Name: Herb Dean
- Age: 54 years old
- Birthday: September 30
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m)
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Professional Mixed Martial Arts Referee and Former Mixed Martial Artist
- Marital Status: Single
- Salary: $500 Thousand Per Year
- Net worth: $2.5 Million
Herb Dean Age
Dean is 54 years old. He was born on September 30, 1970, in Pasadena, California, United States. He celebrates his birthday on September 30 every year and his birth sign is Libra.
Herb Dean Height
Dean stands at a height of 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m).
Herb Dean Weight
Dean weighs 102 kg (225 lbs).
Early Life and Education
Dean was born on 30 September 1970, in Pasadena, California. Details pertaining to his educational background as well as his early childhood are currently unavailable. This information is however currently under review and will soon be updated.
Herb Dean Family, Parents
Herb was born and raised by his parents in California. Our efforts to find out more about his family came to no avail as no such information is publicly available. Thus, the identity of Dean’s parents is still unclear. It is also not known if he has any siblings. We will update this section once this information is available.
Herb Dean Husband
Dean has not gone public with his relationship, it is not publicly known whether he is married or in a relationship. His partner’s information will be updated as soon as the information is available.
Herb Dean Net Worth
Dean has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million dollars as of 2024. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a professional mixed martial arts referee and former mixed martial artist. Through his various sources of income, Herb has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Herb Dean Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Herb.
Herb Dean Wiki
- Full Names: Herbert Dean
- Popular As: Herb
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Professional Mixed Martial Arts Referee and Former Mixed Martial Artist
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: African-American
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Herb Dean Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 54 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Date of Birth: September 30, 1970
- Place of Birth: Pasadena, California, USA
- Birthday: September 30
Herb Dean Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m)
- Weight: 102 kg (225 lbs)
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Not Available
Herb Dean Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Not Known
- Mother: Not Known
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Not Known
- Marital Status: Single
- Wife/Spouse: Not Applicable
- Dating / Girlfriend: Single
- Children: Sons (None) Daughter(s) (None)
Herb Dean Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $2.5 Million
- Salary: $500 Thousand Per Year
- Source of Income: Professional Mixed Martial Arts Referee and Former Mixed Martial Artist
Herb Dean Career
At UFC 70, held on April 21, 2007, Dean was the referee during the bout between Mirko Cro Cop and Gabriel Gonzaga. Late in the first round, Dean stood the fight up from the guard position, a measure typically used against inactivity. Some fight analysts claim that Gonzaga was in fact administering ground and pound and had just maneuvered his opponent against the cage for additional advantage.
Shortly after the stand-up, Gonzaga knocked out Filipović with a kick to the head. Filipović collapsed awkwardly after receiving the blow, pinning his right foot, which was rotated 180 degrees backward, underneath his body.
Dean quickly freed the pinned foot which helped prevent serious injury. Filipović has stated since that the elbows on the ground confused and damaged him enough that he was disoriented after the stand-up, contributing to the subsequent knockout.
UFC president Dana White stated after UFC 109 and UFC 160, that he thinks Dean “is one of the best referees in this business. Actually, I think he’s the best” in reference to his stoppage in the fight between Mike Swick and Paulo Thiago. He added that after Dean’s stoppage of the Mir vs. Sylvia fight he never questions Dean.
“When Herb Dean does shit, I don’t even question it anymore. I wait for the replay. This guy sees shit that I can’t see sitting there watching the monitor.” At UFC 169, Dean caused controversy over his stoppage of the main card fight Renan Barão vs. Urijah Faber for the UFC bantamweight title. UFC president Dana White criticized Dean saying, “He made a mistake.”
At UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik, Dean was heavily criticized for a late stoppage during his refereeing of a fight between Khalid Murtazaliev and C. B. Dollaway. Many fans took to Twitter afterward referencing the stoppage, calling his refereeing disgusting, comparing it to a recent late stoppage by fellow referee Mario Yamasaki. At UFC 235, Dean was criticized by UFC president Dana White after he awarded a win to Ben Askren via bulldog choke against Robbie Lawler.
Herb Dean MMA Record
Herb Dean’s main reputation is within MMA officiating, not as a fighter. However, he did have a brief stint as a professional MMA fighter himself before transitioning to refereeing. Here’s a summary of his MMA record:
- Total fights: 5
- Wins: 2
- Losses: 3
- Wins by: Submission (1), Technical Knockout (1)
- Losses by: Submission (2), Technical Knockout (1)
Details of his fights:
- 2001-2007: Active years as a fighter
- Lightweight: Fought primarily in the lightweight division
- Organizations: Competed in various smaller promotions with limited documentation available
Additional notes:
- While his wins came via submission and TKO, the specific techniques used are not readily available.
- The reasons for his transition from fighter to referee are not publicly disclosed.
- It’s important to remember that his fighting career was relatively short and predates his current prominence as a referee.
Focus on refereeing:
- While his fighting record is part of his personal history, Dean’s primary impact and legacy lie in his contributions as a referee.
- His exceptional career in officiating, marked by professionalism, safety, and dedication, overshadows his short stint as a fighter.
Herb Dean Contacts
- X (Twitter)
- Youtube
- Tiktok
- Website
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