Herb Dean Defends Controversial Stoppage, Criticizes Dan Hardy
Robert Whittaker and Herb Dean (right)
By FCF Staff
Following his confrontation with Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Island 3, over his stoppage of the Francisco Trinaldo – Jai Herbert bout, Herb Dean is defending his decision.
Dean officiated the preliminary bout between Trinaldo and Herbert, and the latter was sent crashing to the floor by a punch in round three. Trinaldo paused to throw any more punches, due to Herbert’s prone position, but Dean didn’t stop the fight.
Trinaldo was prompted to throw more shots and finally, Dean stopped the bout. Moments prior, Hardy and fellow UFC commentator Paul Felder screamed at the renowned ref to stop the fight. Hardy proceeded to leave his broadcasting position and confronted Dean.
Since then, Dean shared out the video below, in which he defended his decision to stop the bout when he did. According to Dean, the ringside physician said his handling of the fight’s final moments was “fine”.
Dean also criticized Hardy for yelling out to stop the fight and argued doing so is “dangerous”. The referee also seemed to take a verbal jab at Hardy, by stating someone at the event put on a “Superman shirt”.
