Herb Dean
Brings us Combat Sports Regulation
"Knowing when to stop a fight is a challenge, an enormous amount of damage can happen in a split second or a fighter can receive a devastating blow and recover quickly."
Herb has refereed some of the most memorable fights in UFC/MMA history. Moving into his third decade of refereeing and regulating MMA, Herb has traveled extensively through out the world and has strong relationships with the MMA community in the US and worldwide.
Herb Dean grew up in the Pasadena and the Los Angeles area, starting Martial Arts at a young age. He has competed in Kickboxing, MMA, Judo and Jiu Jitsu.
Combat Sports Regulation Referee, Judge & Trainer
Tom Supnet
"Supnet served in the U.S. Navy aboard
the USS Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier"
A veteran in the industry Tom Supnet is currently Head of Officials for the Idaho State Athletic Commission, trains officials, and assists with oversight at Idaho MMA events.
Supnet has been involved with Mixed Martial Arts and Jiu-Jitsu since 1995. He started teaching No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu in 2004 and has a brown belt under Craig Kukuk
Supnet served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier and had a professional career in electronics and computer chip design.
In 2004 he started a MMA school, the “Primal Tribe Fighting Club” to train, manage, and corner MMA athletes in some of the top promotions such as UFC, IFC, King of the Cage, Extreme Challenge, and Bodog Fights
In 2012, he started focusing on fighter safety and regulation and successfully completed Herb Dean’s Referee/Judge course and now works as a Technique Assessor for the course
Tom has earned the privilege to referee some of the largest events in the US to include the UFC, Bellator, King of the Cage and RFA
He has been involved with Mixed Martial Arts almost since it’s inception in the U.S.
Combat Sports Regulation Judge
Greg Kleynjans
“Greg Kleynjans was the first graduate of my Referee Course. Now he’s one of my instructors. We’ve worked together on shows around the world. He’s an absolute professional.” - Herb Dean
Greg Kleynjans is one of Australia’s most active and respected officials in MMA. He has officiated as a referee, judge, timekeeper and inspector in events worldwide. One of only two Australians certified by the Association of Boxing Commissions USA.
He was the first student to graduate from the Herb Dean Referee School in 2007. Since 2012 he has been an instructor and assessor at the school, and is a trainer of UFC Inspectors Australia.
Combat Sports Regulation Inspector
Ryan Spink
"Currently I oversee the daily operations for Cobra Kai Martial Arts in Victorville California"
An instructor, competitor and author with over 35 years experience in the martial arts, I hold multiple Black Belts in 8 different martial art systems. Currently I oversee the daily operations for Cobra Kai Martial Arts in Victorville California when I am not traveling around the country teaching seminars.
Training and teaching martial arts are my passions. I have instructed people from all walks of life, business professionals, military, law-enforcement, and house wives, how to use the martial arts to protect and enhance the quality of their lives. My greatest joy is taking an active role in promoting the benefits and values of the martial arts.