UFC's Herb Dean Says I Don't Break Up Fights in Real Life, 'I Run!'

He breaks up fights in the Octagon, but UFC ref Herb Dean says there's no way in hell he's breaking up fights in the street!

Dean -- considered by many to be the best ref in MMA -- was at LAX when we asked if he's ever seen a real-life brawl and felt compelled to get involved.

The short answer -- HELL NO.

"If I see a fight in real life, I'm running in the other direction," Dean said.

"I've walked by street fights ... and somebody watching will recognize me and say, 'Hey Herb' ... I'm like, 'I'm a professional, this is amateur!'"