Herb Dean Faces Criticism After Controversial Call in The Ultimate Fighter

Herb Dean has come under significant criticism for his officiating in a recent match on The Ultimate Fighter, a reality series showcasing mixed martial arts talent.

During a bout between Xavier Franklin and Akylbek Uulu, Dean initially signaled a victory for Franklin after Uulu appeared to be finished. However, following a complaint about an eye poke, Dean reviewed the video and controversially claimed he was signaling a timeout instead of ending the fight. This led to the match being restarted, ultimately resulting in Uulu winning by decision and advancing to the finals.

Franklin expressed frustration over Dean's handling of the situation, while his coach, Michael Bisping, criticized Dean's actions, suggesting that Franklin was unfairly denied a chance to progress in the tournament. Franklin hopes to secure a future opportunity in the UFC but intends to request that Dean not officiate his fights.