Henry Cejudo rips Herb Dean's refereeing: 'Gotta hold them accountable'

Former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo called out veteran referee Herb Dean for what he described as timid officiating, according to MMA Mania.

Cejudo, who retired from active competition after back-to-back losses to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili, suggested Dean has been too cautious in recent assignments. "Gotta hold them accountable," Cejudo said, per the report.

Why Cejudo's criticism carries weight

The criticism carries added context for Cejudo. His penultimate fight ended via eye poke, giving the retired champion firsthand experience with officiating decisions that can alter fight outcomes. MMA Mania noted that personal history likely fuels his frustration with what he sees as inconsistent refereeing.

Dean, widely regarded as one of the sport's most experienced officials, has drawn scrutiny from multiple fighters in recent months. Alex Pereira previously called for Dean to be banned from UFC events after a performance in Baku that the heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion labeled cowardly.

Cejudo's comments add to mounting pressure on referees as the sport continues to debate where the line falls between fighter safety and premature stoppages. No official response from Dean or the UFC has been reported.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Henry Cejudo goes off on Herb Dean’s timid refereeing: ‘Gotta hold them accountable’ | MMA Mania