Buckley mocks Herb Dean's refereeing style with viral 'Herb Dean drill' video

UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley released a tongue-in-cheek training video this week lampooning veteran referee Herb Dean, staging a drill in which a training partner attempts to physically hold him back from attacking a punching bag — a nod to Dean’s widely criticised habit of hesitating before stopping fights.

In the clip, Buckley urges his partner to restrain him with the words “Don’t let me murder him. Don’t let me kill him,” before explicitly naming the activity “the Herb Dean drill” at the end. Despite the ribbing, Buckley’s caption on the video was notably warm, reading: “I made a fun drill inspired by @herbdeanmma — not many like him in the game, wish more refs did it like him.”

Dean is one of the most decorated officials in MMA history, having worked UFC bouts for over two decades alongside countless other promotions worldwide. In recent years, however, his judgment has come under sustained scrutiny. Former two-division champion Alex Pereira publicly criticised Dean for missing fouls at the end of his UFC White House loss to Ciryl Gane, while The Ultimate Fighter 34 contestant Xavier Franklin accused Dean of a refereeing error that may have cost him a place in the tournament finals. Fans and media have also taken aim at Dean over a pattern of early stoppages, late stoppages, and a reluctance to deduct points for fouls.

Buckley himself has limited first-hand experience of Dean’s officiating — the referee has worked just two of his 17 UFC bouts, both of which Buckley won — suggesting the video is more cultural commentary than personal grievance.

The clip arrives at an interesting moment for Buckley, who enters this Saturday’s UFC Edmonton main event against Mike Malott on a two-fight losing streak. A win over the Canadian welterweight would go some way to resetting his trajectory in a competitive 170-pound division.