New Delhi, September 26th, 2023: Matrix Fight Night, South-East Asia’s premium mixed-martial arts promotion, announced that legendary international MMA referee, Herb Dean, will be coming to attend in the upcoming 13th edition of MFN. MFN 13, which is set to take place on October 28th, 2023, at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Sector 21. Dean will be joining the team of officials and will be one of the referees for the edition. The MFN 13 will be headlined by a highly-anticipated rematch between Shyamanand and reigning and defending Champion Sanjeet Budhwar for the Featherweight Champion.
~ Herb Dean joins the roster of officials for the upcoming edition of MFN ~
Dean, who hails from USA, has been one of the most prolific MMA referees for over 20 years, making his debut as a referee for a private promotion in 2002. He officiated in his first UFC bout at UFC 47 in April 2004, and since then, has been officiating for the promotion for the past 18 years.
Dean has also officiated in other major promotions over the years including Professional Fighters League, One Championship, and Bellator, among others. The former MMA athlete has also been regarded by the UFC President Dana White as one of the best MMA referees in the world.
Speaking on his association with MFN 13, Herb Dean said, “It’s a wonderful day here in Southern California, Pasadena. I am Herb Dean, and guess what? I am coming to Matrix Fight Night 13. I cannot wait to get out there and see the scene up close. Looks like the show is going to be amazing, packed with great fights and great production. I cannot wait to see it in person. I will be there shortly, so see you soon, India.”
Matrix Fight Night co-founder Ms. Ayesha Shroff welcomed Herb Dean and said, “We are elated to have Herb Dean come on board with us. There are always three participants in a fight inside the cage, as a referee plays an integral role in not only ensuring the correct decisions are being taken, but also making sure that the fighters remain safe. Herb Dean has been doing this for decades now and his wealth of experience will not only add immeasurable value to MFN 13, but also help in expanding the popularity of MFN across the world.”
MFN co-founder Krishna Shroff further added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Herb Dean to Matrix Fight Night 13! An absolute legend in the game, who has a lot to offer in order to help our team of officials take our show to the next level. We have immense respect for what he brings to the table and I’m confident that the fans are going to be very excited to see him in the cage as well!
Here is a look at the full MFN 13 Fight Card:
MATRIX FIGHT NIGHT 13 CARD:
FLYWEIGHT: Nongmaithem Bonjovi (IND) vs Arshiyan Memon (IND)
STRAWWEIGHT: Sonam Zomba (IND) vs Sarita Rathod (IND)
FLYWEIGHT: Himanshu Kaushik (IND) vs Arsenba Ozokum (IND)
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Dushan Burale (IND) vs Sameer Dhiman (IND)
FLYWEIGHT: Govind Singh Ale (IND) vs Clinton D’Cruz (IND)
BANTAMWEIGHT: Sahil Rana (IND) vs Djordje Stojanovic (SRB)
BANTAMWEIGHT: Yuki Angdembe (NPL) vs Mohammad Mahmoudiyan (IRN)
BANTAMWEIGHT: Mandeep Prajapati (IND) vs Abu Samad (IND)
FEATHERWEIGHT: Abdul Azim Badakhshi (AFG) vs Hae Jin Park (KOR)
Title Fights:
WELTERWEIGHT: Jason Solomon (IND) vs Darkhanbek Ergeshov (KGZ) – CO-MAIN EVENT
FEATHERWEIGHT: Sanjeet Budhwar (IND) vs Shyamanand (IND) – MAIN EVENT
*Please Note: Fight Card/Bout subject to change
Matrix Fight Night 13 will take place at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Sector 21, on October 28th and will be live streamed on Disney+Hotstar from 6 PM IST.
About Matrix Fight Night
Since its inception in 2019, Matrix Fight Night has become synonymous with mixed-martial arts in India. A pet-project of Ms Ayesha Shroff and family, MFN has already witnessed global MMA stars, along with talented Indian fighters competing across multiple weight categories. The professional MMA competition has given Indian fighters a platform to showcase their talents against some of the best opponents from around the world.
