Herb Dean set as ref for UFC 173 main event between Barao, Dillashaw

LAS VEGAS – Veteran referee Herb Dean will officiate next week’s UFC 173 main event bantamweight title fight between champion Renan Barao and top contender T.J. Dillashaw.

UFC 173 takes place May 24 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

In addition to naming Dean as the bout’s referee, the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday named judges for the title fight. Serving as cageside officials will be Derek Cleary, Chris Lee and Tony Weeks. All are veteran judges and have scored many UFC fights.

Dean, one of MMA’s most prominent refs, has been the third man in the cage for some of the sport’s biggest fights. In addition to officiating the UFC 168 rematch between middleweight champion Chris Weidman and former champ Anderson Silva, he was in charge when Weidman first upset Silva at UFC 162.

Dean also reffed the UFC Fight Night 40 main event this past Saturday in Cincinnati between Matt Brown and Erick Silva. In that fight, Dean earned high praise from UFC President Dana White for the way he gave each fighter time to work his way out of trouble rather than being quick on the trigger to stop things.

That praise came on the heels of some rare criticism for Dean for being what many thought was too quick to stop the UFC 169 main event between Barao and Dillashaw teammate Urijah Faber in February.

For the latest on UFC 173, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Herb Dean)