# Andy Foster responds to complaints about Herb Dean after Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC White House

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-22 15:29 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 10 · Current Velocity: 8.7

## Executive Summary
CSAC official Andy Foster defends referee Herb Dean following complaints from Alex Pereira after his fight against Ciryl Gane.

## Intelligence Brief
Andy Foster of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has responded to criticisms directed at referee Herb Dean. The controversy follows the Alex Pereira vs.


Ciryl Gane bout at UFC White House, with Pereira among those calling for a change in officiating. Coverage from MMA Fighting, Yahoo Sports, and Bloody Elbow emphasizes that the commission has already addressed the consistent criticism of the legendary referee.


BJPenn.com reports that a former light heavyweight rival of Pereira has scolded the fighter for his recent comments. Additional reports from Irish Star indicate a separate development involving a referee being pulled from Conor McGregor's comeback fight at the last minute.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Who is responding to the complaints about Herb Dean?
Andy Foster of the CSAC is responding to the complaints.

### Which fighter is cited as criticizing the referee?
Alex Pereira criticized Herb Dean following the fight against Ciryl Gane.

### What other refereeing news was reported?
According to Irish Star, a referee was removed from Conor McGregor's comeback fight at the last minute.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
UFC, Conor McGregor, UFC White House, Herb Dean, Ciryl Gane, Alex Pereira, Andy Foster, LHW

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMA Crossfire | CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster stands by referee Herb Dean | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxOeHFOa3REbjFHZFp3cUREanFGdmhJUnF3MUFrbUxEaDYwNTlsZkY0Q3FKM1liN1VyQVFnd1ZCWUN4ODdWdmZLM2t4Y0Y2Wjhid1RnZHVvanB2WkI2VG1ITHVyLURsZ1hzcjBUN194bElrb2NLbVFieV8yd09jRUZ0Q2Y1U3p0LW12M1l5a25CbkZ3VGgyMEhBNnJqSTdydUEyYTdCS20yVQ?oc=5) |
| Yardbarker | Nevada Commission Stepped In to Remove Herb Dean From Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway Referee Role | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi6wFBVV95cUxOMVp5bnBMb3hFYWpsUms5aDlYVHNHRXNUTlk2UFgxZ1h5UXRabnlGMGp2MXU0S2hQYWpTYzBwQU1HQ3NSNlJNcC1qV0RZbER0b3pKTmJUcWx0WWR6b1ExRmZPcHF2TmllUGtsYTg5QTlfSWNzZkdiY1NCOVpKc3BQRFNWTzFtWkJpM212WmlwNVN4WkRsWTVtdU9qRTF6aVVxWWptQUhKWTF5RkdObFNiamRadXZRRTVFVTBMaldIZ3FnQmZWaUFtQjJOQVZieUY5Z3N6dmtoQ3FMOGZURmpMdW5yNjIwel9KRU8w?oc=5) |
| LowKickMMA.com | “I Think Herb Dean is a good referee… He Has My Full Confidence.” CSAC Commissioner Comes to the Defense of Polarizing Referee | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicEFVX3lxTE9TYTMxS3Q2R1QxNk9ablVuWGxYeGZyR0h0aUFLUTBZdE5HTmF4QlpFd3RZaWZ6OFJlTzRqelp5bnJnd1Z0WnZkS01ERWJLS0otbkx0ZlNOb205MGVzWnF0b05PRnV6Mi1XOXZXbDk5ekI?oc=5) |
| heavy.com | Herb Dean Taking UFC Refereeing Criticism to Heart | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMic0FVX3lxTE9MdUNFTmNJZF90NTcwT2NXY0JGVnVpZE5MWDNfT0NEczMtdWhzaHZEM0FZVkY0aE51SE11Tk5oak1YUzVlWTViY3Q1Vm1zaEZqUHMwZDMtNVNsWE56ZEtDRi1nQ3FMTVZPQVV6Q2hnWHVfNDA?oc=5) |
| MMA Mania | CSAC quiets crybabies (like Alex Pereira) calling for UFC referee change | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1wFBVV95cUxORzhVYVZuWDFVZUVab0dfQm9GODdoT01GdG9WNUFlc2FtNHQtalRfQ29sanRpOEhxU0JvQ0JLOEhIWnNtWG1yTVZFeDN4RHMwWVVLMjVOMGJLNWlZYTVaUHdxUm9NaHRYekZCbldES0N0bHdmaXpxSUdDYldiVXJaY0FjejR6NjZYNHJvZEVxTFpBWVozSERvb09zODBfWXlYVlJZbUNuQVlocVowTHNuR0liaXlnbEwzZGtFclpTSjF4aTlSa1Awb0hpRU1lMUF4N0JKM1BEbw?oc=5) |
| Bloody Elbow | Herb Dean set to referee upcoming UFC title fight after receiving 'full confidence' from commission | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxNeXNnM1VCWHhFRUVDWUJHMklTeFhXOVdLd3BPSFlONzM0RHNUakRGQ0wzc2pjc0FwLURNT3p3RktuaGNXOUpwcWtTWVhZSHgxSlBTcy1ETXRrRGQwOERjTk1OVXlQOVM3VlZHckJiZUlZMWVYNG5VY2h3eHdMcjJfcGFFSVFYWXJiZ080SVVJM3ZNUjVaQTc4WktJVnlyMnpiekM1dndmcUNBS1FDajJIY0tsRGs5T1NGZGdoalo4Y3p2UEJzLWNyZjNvUVNndw?oc=5) |
| Irish Star | UFC referee was pulled from Conor McGregor comeback fight at last minute | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxOMF9QNjB6SnV2OEFBTjZpYlJFS09uNHBtLUJ5VldLcllhZk1tZ1JiWXE4eWsyR01TZnBkRmNzQ1I2cF8teE4yUmFKRzMyc1ozYmNhTmtGN2FuWVVhTzBITFBoYnlqbk5TRWV0QVRfTTFpeXlVRU1rcFhTOFRiMllONE9YNFpsSDhMTlVydWo3NC1UQ1VD0gGaAUFVX3lxTE90elNvaUpXb2FhbHd0by1mN0tTY0FZMU5UWHM5dWdVb2stMTlqRlI1NHJFZEJ3NjBBWnpZMmROOElhdUNjejdldXI1TTVfRmlXT0RNQjA2RHhwdFpiWng0a09qb1kwRVhEU2R1RDNBaDg4T0dJQ0k3amhZRk5qYUlIWFlvSmkyal9ESVNVQXUtNjZvLWM2bUFORkE?oc=5) |
| BJPenn.com | Alex Pereira’s former LHW rival scolds him for recent Herb Dean criticism | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxNSzVvVnhXblhvSHNFX3lmYUJLZzJuWFBFbTZQM2VzdWlJZzZJMEZXdFFKLU1PN3h3SkVBZzhBTFEtZkphUlBzQmlwYWdnakVtWUg2aUN1YkkwbW81T0IwY3FnSDhkUy1YNWFENlg3aWtHRUYzTEZVVzRYMk92M3ZHbG9GUkJmS3k3dEFNc29TcmJaWm5manc?oc=5) |
| Bloody Elbow | Consistent Herb Dean criticism already addressed by commission reveals legendary referee | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNS2RXb0xPZGhpRjJqMlY3MFVGeDViNVYzc3oyQlY4VGZiWmg3Wm5EczZsT1ZZR1k3X0tHb2dKcGpCdC12QU9UaU5faEV0WTdlMS03U1JKLTFMbWlYSXo2d2NHLXI2RXRXd09pZ3NQU0VOWTFzTktPRmMyOEZyQXdmUWFZbHlURGh3ZElUX211YkV2aVQ1V05rQmNoUENpb0RyT0dPOHBBZV9DRlV2REZEMllTZjdnb0NFVTFqWjZ5Y2Z2dw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | CSAC quiets crybabies (like Alex Pereira) calling for UFC referee change | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQbDdETlRFbk1Xa0lYcmxSOWlOLXNnVmNNRDN4MTJpWDBjS3FYcGVLaW1naDZiVmo2YWNqQTRKMGdmRFpzQ3BlaXBmWkstdWxaS2I4V0tNNnVyQTdwb1d6a2VzQy02c3VFZFVrbnpnSDJ0WVNzd1ZsWk1pSzRwRkVHRmlRc3FCYklFS3Qw?oc=5) |
| MMA Fighting | Andy Foster responds to complaints about Herb Dean after Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC White House | 2026-07-22 13:00 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2AFBVV95cUxOYXF0M0ZOQ21rWHVCU3BQSHk2VUh5NlYxSmtsOXEwNVFrZHVGTTJrVnBfVDVWQ2pVZ3p0YmxtYjFSZld0MHBQMF94cVRoSWNKVmRnWjdfSjlWZUUyaVZJSEVlS2NLS29OblpYS083M25meXFmNkpWTXktcjlTWlh4N0FjWWl0YWlta1RVSHNDaGdsVlZSeVhScXAyYmhwWks4dFZITU1kM2pKd2dlTm5ZOE1KX3VZbFNFbTlGUHVnTXpISGdiRXpwVXdoZVQ4Y3BRcjdOOEJWWko?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-22/andy-foster-responds-to-complaints-about-herb-dean-after-alex-pereira-vs-ciryl*
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