Dana White Comments on Herb Dean's Controversial Stoppage

White's Assessment of Dean's Performance

Dana White provided a mixed review of Herb Dean following the controversial stoppage of King Green during UFC 332. White remarked that Dean is experiencing "a rough f-cking year," but he refrained from labeling the stoppage as a clear mistake. King Green was knocked down three times by Esteban Ribovics in the first round before Dean halted the fight at 4:08, resulting in a TKO victory for Ribovics. White acknowledged the situation, stating, "Herb's having a rough f-cking year. Listen, you know, Bobby was laying there going ... but he got dropped like three times in a row. So, I've seen worse stoppages."

The Fight and Immediate Aftermath

The lightweight bout took place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on October 3. Ribovics repeatedly hurt Green, leading to three knockdowns in a short span. As Dean stepped in to stop the fight, Green immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, insisting he was still capable of continuing. Ribovics approached Green during the aftermath, prompting Dean to intervene and almost push Ribovics through the Octagon door while separating the fighters. Green later revealed he had previously discussed with Dean the possibility of fighting through adversity, saying, "I told Herb this is gonna get sticky. Let me go on my shield."

Controversies Surrounding Herb Dean

This stoppage adds to a series of controversies involving Dean in 2026. In September, he was involved in a disputed finish during Dana White's Contender Series, where Ian Escuza landed an illegal knee on Luca Borando before winning via TKO. Criticism of Dean has also attracted the attention of former champions, particularly after Alex Pereira's contentious loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250. Henry Cejudo suggested that referees should face consequences for their decisions affecting fighters' health and earnings, while Dominick Cruz questioned the focus on Dean's interpretation of illegal strikes instead of the fighters' grievances.

Ongoing Debate Over Refereeing Decisions

The debate regarding Dean's officiating has continued, especially after Andre Fili raised concerns about illegal strikes in a later bout he was involved in. Past criticisms have resurfaced, including Khabib Nurmagomedov's remarks about Dean's handling of Conor McGregor's fouls at UFC 229. Despite the controversies, Nevada officials reviewed the stoppage in the Green-Ribovics fight and decided to uphold the TKO result, concluding that the foul was not significant enough to alter the outcome. White disagreed with this assessment, stating that the fight should have been ruled a no contest, asserting, "He f-cked up."

Green's loss marked the end of his four-fight winning streak, contributing to Dean's ongoing challenges this year. White's comments suggest that while Dean's actions may have been premature, the circumstances provided a defensible rationale for his intervention.