Athletic Commission Director defends Herb Dean after controversies with Alex Poatan

Gane knocked out Poatan at UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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Alex Poatan 's attempts to get Herb Dean punished don't seem to be working, at least for now. In an interview with the 'MMA Fighting' website on Wednesday (22), Andy Foster, executive director of the California Athletic Commission, followed Dana White's example and tried to defend the referee from recent criticism and praise the confidence in Dean's work.

The director revealed that the referee will be chosen as the third man in the octagon for the main event of UFC 331, between Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry next month. The event will take place in California, and therefore, the professionals selected are the responsibility of the Commission.

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"I think Herb Dean is a good referee and you'll see him in the main event because he's the most experienced referee in California. Herb Dean has my complete confidence," said the director.

CSAC executive director Andy Foster responds to complaints about Herb Dean after Ciryl Gane ’s controversial win over Alex Pereira at #UFCWhiteHouse :

“I think Herb Dean's a good referee. … Herb Dean has my full confidence.”

(🎥 @DamonMartin ) pic.twitter.com/NjHQYAa4tj

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) July 22, 2026

Very upset with the referee, the Pataxó Indian has been publicly campaigning to ensure Herb Dean is punished. In both interviews and social media posts, the Brazilian has demanded the American be fired by the UFC. Since he is not a UFC employee, he cannot be fired, but the company may prove resistant to scheduling him for future events.

Andy Foster saw no problems in Poatan's fight.

Poatan at a UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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Recalling the controversy surrounding the fight between Ciryl Gane and Alex Poatan in the co-main event of UFC Casa Branca , Foster said he understood Dean's actions at the time. He believes stopping the fight then would have been the wrong choice.

“Regarding the Gane and Pereira case, I was there. I was following it in real time. To me, it seemed like a normal fight. I think what started that sequence was the punch that took (Poatan) to the ground. He (Gane) was obviously trying to finish the fight. (Poatan) was trying to recover in the fight. Undoubtedly, some blows got through and hit (the back of the neck). The question is: what do you do in that situation? Do you stop the action? Because I don't think many referees would have done that—if any would—certainly not at a high level,” he stated.

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