Herb Dean in action during a UFC fight. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
The experienced Herb Dean has another reason to forget 2026. Considered by many to be the best referee, the professional has been making headlines negatively this season due to certain controversial decisions during fights and 'paid the price'. At the traditional 'MMA Oscars', a ceremony held last Wednesday (8), in Las Vegas (USA), the American lost in the 'Best Referee' category, something that doesn't happen often.
It's worth highlighting that this edition crowned the most outstanding performances that occurred between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. This is because the event, which was scheduled to take place in December and aimed to reward those who shone in the 2024/2025 season, never happened. Therefore, the winners were only announced now.
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Since the voting is done online, fans showed that Herb no longer enjoys the prestige he once did. At the 17th 'MMA Oscars', the professional competed with Mike Beltran, Jason Herzog, and Mark Smith, but saw Marc Goddard elected the best referee. Interestingly, Dean had won the last two awards. In the current season, the American's refereeing has been harshly criticized in the losses of... Alex Poatán e Michael Pereira against Cyryl Gane e Shara Magomedov in the UFC, respectively.
Main winners of the 17th MMA Oscars
Best fighter: Merab Dvalishvili
It competed with Ilia Topuria, Alexandre pantoja, Magomed Ankalayev and Gadzhi Rabadanov.
Best international fighter: Paddy Pimblett
It competed with Dricus Du Plessis, Jack Della Maddalena, Ridder's Reinier and Phil de Fries.
Best female fighter: Kayla harrison
It competed with Valentina ShevchenkoDakota Ditcheva Natalie Silva e Jasmine Jasudavicius.
Best revelation: Joshua Van
It competed with Jean Silva, Sean brady, Ridder's Reinier and Dakota Ditcheva.
Best fight: Joshua Van x Brandon royval
It competed with Usman Nurmagomedov x Paul Hughes, Esteban Ribovics x Daniel Zellhuber, Jack Della Maddalena x Belal Muhammad | e Nazim Sadykhov x Nikolas Motta.
Best knockout: Mauricio Ruffy em Bobby Green
It competed with fares ziam x Matt frevola, Shara Magomedov x Arman Petrosyan, Gustavo Oliveira x Anas Azizoun and Roberto Soldic x Saygid Arslanaliev.
Best finish: Jean Silva em Bryce mitchell
It competed with Khamzat Shimaev x Robert whittaker, Paddy Pimblett x Bobby Green, Virna jandiroba x Amanda lemos and Steve Ray x Lewis Long.
Best gym: Syndicate MMA
He competed with American Top Team, Abdulmanap School, Fighting Nerds and Valle Flow Striking.
Best coach: John Wood, from Syndicate MMA
It competed with Khabib Nurmagomedov, from Abdulmanap School, Pablo Sucupira, from Fighting Nerds, Mike Brown, from American Top Team, and Mike Valle, from Valle Flow Striking.
Best organization: UFC
Competed with PFL, LFA, Rizin and Cage Warriors.
Best leader: Dana White
He competed against Nobuyuki Sakakibara, Ed Soares, Peter Murray, and Graham Boylan.
Best narrator: Jon anik
He competed against Brendan Fitzgerald, John Gooden, Michael Schiavello, and Sean O'Connell.
Best personality: Nina Drama
He competed against Joe Rogan, Bruce Buffer, Daniel Cormier e Chael Sonnen.
Best MMA program: Contender Series
It competed with The Ariel Helwani Show, Jaxxon Podcast, The Anik & Florian Podcast and The Ultimate Fighter.
Best journalist: Ariel helwani
He competed against Mike Bohn, Aaron Bronsteter, Ben Fowlkes, and Damon Martin.
Best specialized media: MMA Junkie
Competed with ESPN MMA, MMA Fighting, Uncrowned and Sherdog.
Read More about: Arbitration, referee, Herb dean, MMA, MMA Oscar
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