Amid the ongoing backlash surrounding referee Herb Dean following Alex Pereira’s complaints about illegal shots at the UFC White House event, Kevin Holland has come to the veteran official’s defense. Holland believes fighters spend far too much time throwing referees under the bus instead of owning their performance.
Pointing to the foundational rule—”protect yourself at all times”—Holland stressed that refereeing a high-speed fight is brutal and mistakes happen. His message to fellow competitors was blunt: “Win, lose, or draw, you signed up for this. Stop bitching, man up, and figure it out for next time.”
