Controversy Explodes at TUF 34 as Fighter Launches Scathing Attack on Herb Dean After Restart

After back-to-back controversial calls, the veteran official is once again under fire at The Ultimate Fighter, where his latest antics pushed a TUF fighter to raise hellfire on him. In the clash between Xavier Franklin and Akylbek Uulu, Franklin rocked Uulu before unleashing a crushing right hand that forced Herb Dean to intervene.

Xavier Franklin Goes Off on Herb Dean After Controversial Clash

Just when everyone thought the fight was over, Uulu protested an alleged eye poke, sending Dean back to the replay booth for a controversial video review. At cageside, Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier, and UFC head honcho Dana White were seen discussing the sequence.

When a commissioner asked Dean if it was possible to restart the fight, Dean replied, “I can. I called time.” The clock had just 50 seconds left when the fight resumed, and Franklin was certainly not happy with the developments.

Uulu ultimately secured a decision victory, with his wrestling control earning him the first two rounds. Franklin needed a finish in the third to steal the fight.

“So in this, they asked Herb, they’re like, “Did you call the fight? And he goes, “No, I said time. In my head, I’m like, “You lying bastard,” said Franklin following the match, per MMA Fighting. 

When asked whether Herb Dean ever stayed back to explain, Franklin said that Dean simply left without giving any explanation as to what had happened.

“He didn’t explain shit to nobody. He just was trying to cover his ass because he literally panicked when everybody was like, “Dana, what the f*ck?” said Franklin. 

The replay video did show that Franklin’s hand was open as he pawed at Akylbek Uulu’s face.  However, it remained unclear whether the contact was actually made with the eye. While his UFC prospects may have been tainted, Franklin remains optimistic about fighting under the UFC banner. 

As for Herb Dean, he might have been catching a lot of strays these days. Recently, Jorge Masvidal called him out for his refereeing.

Jorge Masvidal Rips Into Herb Dean’s Inconsistent Calls

For Joe Rogan, Herb Dean is the “gold standard” of refereeing. However, that statement didn’t sit well with former BMF belt holder Jorge Masvidal, who ripped into both Rogan and Dean over what he believes are inconsistent calls.

“I don’t know what he’s (Joe Rogan) basing that off because, if you know, I would sit down and have a theological debate discussion with anybody that thinks he’s the gold standard,” Masvidal said on Full Send MMA. “Okay, I’ll bring up, you know, numerous incidents where I see inconsistencies.”

 He further added, “I see nervousness, and I see something that I really dislike in a referee is if they stop it too early, but also they stop it like way too f—– late. Like, Herb Dean is what, known for stopping fights crazy late sometimes or crazy early, and I don’t—I don’t like those things, you know? It’s a big inconsistency for me.”

Not only Jorge Masvidal and Xavier Franklin, but Herb Dean has also been called out by top-ranked fighters such as Alex Pereira, Andre Fili, and others for his inconsistencies. While he continues to get major fights, if this keeps up, things could become difficult for him in the future.