Referee Herb Dean draws double duty in UFC on FOX 8 main and co-main events

SEATTLE – Veteran referee Herb Dean will oversee the two top-billed fights at UFC on FOX 8.

Dean is the third man in the cage for the event’s title headliner between flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson and John Moraga, which will be judged by Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee and Lester Griffin.

Just prior to that fight, Dean also officiates the co-main draw between welterweights Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald, which will be judged by D’Amato, Dave Hagen and Griffin.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Friday received UFC on FOX 8 referee and judging assignments from the Washington State Department of Licensing, which oversees the state’s combative sports program.

UFC on FOX 8 takes place tonight at Seattle’s KeyArena. The event’s main card airs live on FOX following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Dean is one of the most recognizable referees in the UFC with countless high-profile assignments. Earlier this month, he was front and center in the cage when Chris Weidman upset then-middleweight champ Anderson Silva at UFC 162.

In a recent interview with MMAjunkie.com Radio, Dean said Silva’s showboating made him unclear on whether the fighter was hurt when Weidman knocked him down with a punch in the second round of the title fight.

According to MMADecisions.com, a website that tracks judging decisions in major events, Johnson vs. Moraga judge D’Amato has overseen six major events this year, most recently UFC 161. He scored the main event for light heavyweight Rashad Evans over Dan Henderson by a score of 29-28. Judge Lee has officiated five major events this year, and notably scored a welterweight bout for Tyron Woodley over Jake Shields by a score of 30-27. Judge Griffin has officiated four major events.

Ellenberger vs. MacDonald judge Dave Hagen, meanwhile, has overseen one major event this year, UFC 160, where he scored three bouts. Notably, he scored a welterweight contest for Mike Pyle over Rick Story by a score of 29-28.

Additionally, a middleweight main-card bout between Robbie Lawler and Bobby Voelker is to be officiated by Dan Miragliotta and judged by D’Amato, Hagen, and Griffin.

For the latest on UFC on FOX 8, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Herb Dean)