It was just about two weeks ago when UFC president Dana White blasted referee Steve Mazzagatti, as well as the Nevada state athletic commission (NSAC) for continually offering him major assignments. White proclaimed Mazzagatti “dangerous,” and predicted that because of his rant, NSAC would name Mazzagatti as the referee for UFC 162’s main-event matchup between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman.
On Friday, NSAC instead assigned the man that White considers the best in the business, as Herb Dean was unanimously approved for the spot.
Adalaide Byrd, Marcos Rosales and Patricia Morse Jarman were chosen as the judges for the July 6 headlining match, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
White’s latest criticism came on the night after UFC 161, in response to White watching Josh Burkman choke out Jon Fitch in a World Series of Fighting show.
“Does anyone disagree with me that Mazzagatti’s a f—ing toolbox?,” White said at the time. “I mean, he literally did nothing. Fitch is out cold. And I saw some people talking s— on the Internet today, like, well B.J. Penn held the choke for five more seconds (against Jens Pulver) and somebody else, I can’t remember who it was. Those were rear naked chokes.
“Anyone who has ever done Jiu Jitsu, that thing (the guillotine) does f—ing damage,” said White. “It hurts, and a guy is unconscious. You’re squeezing his neck as hard as you can. You’re a f—ing idiot that a rear naked choke is the same as that front choke. When he (Fitch) goes out, then he (Burkman) rolls him f—ing over, let’s his head flop to the thing. He’s standing over him before Mazzagatti gets in there.”
Longtime fans know that White has a history of berating Mazzagatti through the media. On the other hand, he has longed championed Dean as the best in the sport, and this time, he’ll get what he wants for his big fight.