Referee Herb Dean is once again facing scrutiny from the MMA community, this time following his handling of the matchup between King Green and Esteban Ribovics. Dean, who previously faced criticism from Alex Pereira after UFC Freedom 250, has been scrutinized for a pattern of officiating lapses, including inconsistent penalty calls and questionable early stoppages. Herb Dean seems to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
During the clash with Ribovics, Green was knocked down multiple times throughout the opening round. Although the fight was eventually waved off by the official, the 40-year-old American remained active and immediately protested the decision, insisting he was capable of continuing the contest. Former UFC champion Belal Muhammad publicly supported this sentiment, suggesting on social media that Dean made a significant error in judgment by intervening when he did. However, Green seemed fine when the fight was stopped, and he protested that he could have continued. However, things didn’t start off well for Green.
The loss marks a difficult setback for Green, who entered the cage riding a four-fight winning streak. Beyond the disappointment of the defeat, the veteran fighter likely missed out on potential performance bonuses, a frustration compounded by the fact that his opponent had missed weight leading into the event. Despite being repeatedly pressured and dropped by Ribovics, Green displayed resilience by repeatedly returning to his feet and attempting to counter, making the sudden stoppage particularly contentious.
Following this result, Green’s professional record now stands at 36 wins, 18 losses, one draw, and one no contest. For Esteban Ribovics, the victory represents a major career milestone. The Argentine fighter, nicknamed ‘El Gringo,’ is building significant momentum following his previous win over Edson Barboza at UFC 330. Despite a loss to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 327, Ribovics is now on a two-fight winning streak and holds a career record of 17-3. Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at and more.
