Herb Dean in paradise in Koh Samui ahead of ONE Fight Night 6, shares origin story

Ahead of ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video, referee Herb Dean is enjoying his time spent in Thailand for the very first time.

Staying at a picturesque resort in Koh Samui, Dean took some time to reflect on his career as an official in MMA whilst sitting poolside.

In an Instagram post, he told the story of how he became a referee in MMA, revealing that he first started out as an inspector.

Telling stories of Pancrase and King of the Cage, Dean spoke about how different the sport was back then and how he convinced King of the Cage to let him referee some fights after volunteering as an inspector and missing the event.

The post was commented on by two of the other top referees in the sport.

Mike Beltran said:

“Awesome post @herbdeanmma, you for sure don’t have amnesia and never forgot where you came from. All of you peers respect you and thanks for keeping 💯. Now go back to having that Pina Colada 🧺 homie with @victa2843👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽. Enjoy carnal!”

Marc Goddard added:

“Very cool bit of history & recollection. Never forgetting how we started, where & with who is so important. 👊🏼 enjoy the vacation ! 🙏🏼”

---

“It’s the home for martial arts in general” - Herb Dean appreciates the variety of disciplines showcased in ONE Championship

One of the top referees in the sport of MMA, Herb Dean hasn’t been a part of the ONE Championship family for long but he’s loving the experience so far.

The 52-year-old has overseen some of the biggest events and fights in the sport's history through his time working as an official, predominantly in North America and Europe.

As a martial artist himself who formerly competed in MMA, Dean is a big fan of the way ONE hosts numerous martial arts all under one roof. Though his focus is on bouts that take place inside the MMA ruleset, he appreciates competition in all disciplines that take place inside the circle.

In an interview posted on The MMA Superfan YouTube page, Dean discussed what sets the Singapore-based promotion apart from other organizations:

“What I really like a lot is the fact that it’s the home for martial arts in general. So I get to see top-level Muay Thai, top-level kickboxing, and it’s high-level guys, the best of the best, which is not something I’m always going to get to see at a show. So I really like that format.”

Watch Herb Dean’s full interview below:

Herb Dean has long been one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. The 10-time Fighters Only World MMA Awards Referee of the Year winner has helped to set the standard for officials in the sport through his dedication to making it safer for those competing.