Andy Foster responds to complaints about Herb Dean after Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC White House

Key Points:

• Herb Dean, a veteran MMA referee, has faced criticism from former UFC champion Alex Pereira for not penalizing illegal punches to the back of the head during Pereira's fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC White House in June.
• California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster defended Dean's handling of the fight, stating that the situation appeared typical for a high-level MMA bout and that stopping the fight for those fouls could have unfairly altered the outcome.
• Foster acknowledged some punches did land illegally but emphasized the difficulty referees face in deciding when to stop action, suggesting that issuing warnings or point deductions should be clearer and more consistent.
• Foster praised Dean's overall refereeing, expressing full confidence in him and noting Dean's senior status in California, while also highlighting the need for better rules to address fouls in MMA.
• Plans are underway to propose rule changes that eliminate the current "intentional and unintentional fouls" distinction, replacing it with categories like incidental, reckless, and malicious fouls to guide referees in penalty decisions more effectively.