5 Times Herb Dean Refused To Call It And Let Fighters “Be The Warrior”

Benny A. King

Herb Dean’s reffing came into focus earlier this month when he failed to stop Brian Ortega vs Alex Volkanovski in spite of Ortega being unable to get up as the bell ring – and in spite of him being unable to answer any questions in follow up medical check.

In fact later Ortega seemed unaware he was being offered water and did breathing exercises instead of taking a sip:

Even Volkanovski criticized Dean:

 

Dean defended his fumble:.

“I don’t think his cornermen helped him [to sit up],” Dean said (transcription via Bloody Elbow). “He was laying there, he wasn’t getting up. I think it was more of those ‘Hey, it’s time to get up. Let’s get moving.’ ‘Cause once they grabbed him, it’s not, like, they had to lift him up. Once they put their hands on him, he was getting up to get on the stool. But I think he was really having that — I can’t speak for him, but I know how it feels like to struggle with yourself. And he definitely was spending some time talking to himself there, figuring out, digging deep. Finding the strength to go on.

“What was interesting is he got that minute rest period. ‘Cause basically, at the end of the round, it was exhaustion, I think. He had given it his all. Then the physician comes in, medically clears him, says he’s clear. Some of (Ortega’s) answers weren’t exactly clear, but then when he looked at me and gave clear answers, like, ‘Yes, I see, yes I wanna continue,’ and you could see that he was ready to compete again, we gave him another chance. Of course, we’re gonna kinda watch closely, but he got out there and did what he was supposed to do.”

But this lead us to google some of our least favorite situations where Herb let the “fighter go out like a warrior”TM:

5. Marina Rodriguez finishes Amanda Ribas twice:

 

4. BJ Penn Punches Diego Sanchez’ Head Off:

 

 

3. CB Dolloway curls up and accepts defeat to Khalid Murtazaliev, Herb Dean disagrees and allows him the chance to be a warrior:

 

2. T.J Dillashaw finishes former champion Cody Garbrandt, a Warrior

1. Weidman Takes Punishment from Rockhold – as a warrior