Chael Sonnen Questions Process Of Determining Which Referees Handle UFC Main Events: 'I Know There Is Great Politicking Done!'

Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on the referee-choosing process in the UFC. 

It was recently confirmed that veteran official Herb Dean will serve as the referee for the upcoming UFC 300 main event. The bout will see UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira defend his gold for the first time. Standing opposite him will be former 205-pound champ Jamahal Hill, who is looking to regain the belt injury forced him to relinquish last year. 

Dean is no stranger to refereeing main events in the Octagon. However, the announcement has prompted some questions from "The Bad Guy."

'Were They All Eligible To Get The Main Event?' - Sonnen On UFC 300 Headliner

In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, "The Bad Guy" pondered how the decision gets made on which referee gets to officiate the main event. 

"Are all the referees that are gonna be working the card that night, were they all eligible to get the main event?" Sonnen wondered. "And then, that's where we start with the conversation where ultimately the executive director submits the name and the commission can say up or down."

Sonnen went on to hypothesize about whether or not Dean specifically requested reffing the main event, and how such matters are decided at the executive level. He admitted he was not even sure who establishes how such a process plays out behind-the-scenes. 

"I feel that some of that would be of interest," Sonnen said. "And I know there's great politicking done, and I know that if you're in that industry, you want to reach the top, and just like a fighter, the top goes to the main-event. I just don't know what that order is, and I don't know who establishes it."