Herb Dean: Fighter’s fate is in their hands
Herb Dean, the man many, including UFC President Dana White, have called the best referee in mixed martial arts, reflects on…
Herb Dean, the man many, including UFC President Dana White, have called the best referee in mixed martial arts, reflects on his art in an interview with MMAJunkie Radio. Dean is set to referee on the prelim card of tonight’s UFC on FOX event in Anaheim, Calif. “Big” John McCarthy is refereeing the title fight between heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez and challenger Dos Santos,
Miguel Torres once used the customary backstage meeting with his referee to instruct the official not to stop the fight unless he was knocked out cold.
“Most of the fighters tell me that every time I go back there and talk to them,” Herb Dean told MMAjunkie.com Radio. “These guys want to fight. Half of them are going to tell me that.”
“That’s usually when I launch into, ‘Well, if you have something to give, and you hear me say fight back, that lets you know I’m thinking about stopping the fight. We let them know that their fate is in their hands.”
“The main thing I talk to them about is what my commands mean. Hey, I’m thinking about interfering. That means you need to show me something if you wish to continue.’ That’s why you’ll hear us telling the fighters, ‘Fight back, fight back.’ If they have anything left, they should give it then. If they don’t, that’s a clear signal that they’re done.”
“Someone can tap just once, and if they’re doing something that makes no sense, like if their hands are away from what they’re defending, then they’ve given up and they scream in pain and all they can do is tap, then I’m going to take that as a tap.
“If I see someone’s hands where they should be, and they’re moving around, I’m going to wait to make sure it’s a definitive tap. Because people’s hands are moving, especially if that hand is doing what it’s supposed to do. I’m going to look and see what’s happening. I’m not just going to call it on what may appear to be a tap.”