So, I was watching UFC fights the other day, and a name that kept popping up was Herb Dean. I’ve seen this guy ref a ton of fights, and it got me thinking, “How much does a guy like that actually make?” I mean, he’s like, the gold standard of MMA refs, right? So, I decided to do some digging.
First, I just did a simple Google search, “Herb Dean salary.” That gave me a bunch of articles and forum posts to sift through. It wasn’t like there was an official press release or anything, so I had to piece things together.
Figuring Out the Puzzle
Here’s what I started to gather:
- Herb Dean is a big deal. Like, everyone seems to agree he’s one of the best, if not THE best, in the business. Apparently, he used to fight, too, which probably helps him understand what’s going on in the octagon.
- He works a lot. One source mentioned he was the second-most used ref in the UFC in 2023, working 57 fights. The year before that? 90! That’s a ton of fights.
Then came the money part. Most places were saying his net worth is around $2.5 million. Now, that’s not just from reffing, I’m sure. He’s probably got other stuff going on, but it gives you a ballpark figure.
Breaking Down the Numbers
From what I could find, it sounds like he’s pulling in about $500,000 a year just from reffing. That’s a pretty good chunk of change! I saw some estimates that top refs can make anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 per fight for big events. I guess it makes sense. These guys are in there with some of the most dangerous athletes in the world, making split-second decisions that can impact the outcome of a fight and someone’s career.
So, after all this searching, I felt like I had a pretty decent idea of what Herb Dean is making. It’s not like I cracked some secret code or anything. It was more about reading a bunch of stuff, seeing what numbers kept coming up, and then using some common sense.
It’s kind of cool to see that someone can make a really good living doing something like that. It’s definitely not your typical 9-to-5 job! And it seems Herb Dean’s experience and reputation have earned him the top spot among UFC referees, and quite a hefty salary to match.
