Dana White Blasts Herb Dean Following Controversial DWCS Call
Ian Escuza might have earned himself a UFC contract on Tuesday, but his win came at the expense of Herb Dean.
The Peruvian featherweight faced Luca Borando with a UFC deal on the line and needed just 32 seconds to finish his opponent in the opening round. However, the finishing sequence quickly became the biggest talking point of the fight. One of Escuza’s knees appeared to catch Borando while he was a downed opponent, in turn putting veteran referee Dean squarely in UFC bossman Dana White’s crosshairs for an earful.
“He F**ked Up” – Dana White Goes Off on Herb Dean
Escuza had Borando hurt against the fence and was pouring on the pressure when the sequence unfolded. As Borando dropped toward the canvas, “The Specimen” continued his barrage before landing a knee that connected while his opponent still had a knee on the ground.
Under the rules, that made Borando a downed opponent and the knee illegal. However, Dean did not intervene promptly to stop the action, with the sequence ultimately leading to the first-round TKO.
The controversial part came afterward, when Dean and Nevada State Athletic Commission officials reviewed the finish and decided to let the result stand.
That decision did not sit well with the UFC CEO. During the post-fight presser, when asked about the officiating after DWCS Week 8, White did not mince his words when discussing Dean’s performance.
“What we do is we keep spending money to fund training for these guys to keep training. I don't disagree with you. Herb Dean's been around for a long f**king time. It's not like he needs green, and he needs some work. He f**ked up,” White said.
In hindsight, the issue was particularly difficult to overlook because Dean is hardly a newcomer to the sport. The veteran referee has spent years officiating some of the biggest fights in MMA, making the mistake even more surprising in White’s eyes.
White Thought Bout Should Have Been Ruled No-Contest
Interestingly, White did not believe the controversial sequence should have resulted in Escuza keeping the win. He said he personally felt the bout should have been ruled a no-contest.
That said, the controversial ending sequence did not stop the 30-year-old from landing a contract, though. As reports suggest, UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby pushed for the undefeated Peruvian to receive a contract, and White, for his part, ultimately agreed.
As for Escuza, he left the octagon Tuesday with an eight-fight unbeaten record intact and a place on the UFC roster, while Borando is expected to receive another opportunity on the Contender Series.
Escuza Admits White’s Criticism “Suffered” Him
From Escuza’s standpoint, the controversy was not something he even fully understood while the fight was happening. In fact, he said that he only realized the knee had been illegal after watching the replay. More importantly, he insisted there was no ill intent behind the foul and believed Borando was already finished when the knee landed.
“To be honest, I was so happy until I saw the recap. I didn’t realize; of course, it wasn’t on purpose. It was an accident. I realized after the fight,” Escuza told the media afterwards.
“Even though he was already done, I felt his body falling already when I kneed the body; he was already done. He already left the fight, literally. The fight was done, I still earned the contract. I’m really happy right now,” he added.
Furthermore, Escuza admitted that White’s criticism still hit him hard, particularly on a night that was supposed to mark the biggest breakthrough of his career.
“I suffered a little bit with Dana’s comments, but it is what it is. I gotta be honest. I come from Muay Thai, I’m a traditional fighter, I respect my opponents, and it is what it is. But I deserve it. He was done.”
Escuza then singled out Shelby and his manager for helping make the opportunity possible, promising the UFC matchmaker wouldn't regret backing him. “I’m a guy that works really hard towards his dreams. The opportunity he gave me right now is going to change my life, my family’s life,” he said.
The bigger picture remains. This isn't the first time Dean has come under fire. Previously, veterans, including Alex Pereira, had levied heavy criticism against Dean following his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250.
