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GLENDALE, AZ – JUNE 12: Referee Herb Dean during UFC 263 on June 12, 2021, at Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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GLENDALE, AZ – JUNE 12: Referee Herb Dean during UFC 263 on June 12, 2021, at Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The UFC 273 main event saw ‘The Great’ Alexander Volkanovski defend his featherweight championship in a definitive performance. Referee Herb Dean stopped the dominant display and saved ‘The Korean Zombie’ from taking further damage at the hands of the champion.
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After the first round itself, it was evident that Chan Sung Jung was having a tough time getting any success in the fight. Though he tried his best and lived up to his moniker, Alexander Volkanovski was just too good and made his third successful title defense of his UFC featherweight title on an exciting PPV card.
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Volkanovski, as predicted, inflicted a lot of damage to the Zombie, eventually finishing the fight.
Herb Dean, who previously has faced criticism for stopping the fight early, was showered with praise. The MMA Twitter saluted the veteran ref for his excellent work.
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Herb Dean received love from the MMA community
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appreciated the fact that Dean saved Zombie from taking any unnecessary damage which could affect the fighter for a long period. He tweeted, “Good call from Herb Dean. Korean Zombie is too tough for his own good.”
Good call from Herb Dean.
Korean Zombie is too tough for his own good.#UFC273— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) April 10, 2022
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Even UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith noted Herb Dean’s stoppage and praised the referee.
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“I’ve been critical of refs, probably don’t give them credit enough where it’s due. I need to be better in that aspect. With that said, incredible stoppage by Herb Dean right there. I was ready to be done seeing that.”
I’ve been critical of refs, probably don’t give them credit enough where it’s due. I need to be better in that aspect.
With that said, incredible stoppage by Herb Dean right there. I was ready to be done seeing that.
— Anthony Smith (@lionheartasmith) April 10, 2022
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UFC lightweight protect Terrance McKinney also chimed in to praise Dean’s work in the UFC 273 main event.
Herb Dean the best out period @HerbDeanMMA
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) April 10, 2022
Herb dean made the right call. Great fight. @KoreanZombieMMA is a legend!
— Cody Stamann (@CodyStamann) April 10, 2022
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Even MMA journalists used their Twitter handles to post about the outstanding work done by Herb Dean at UFC 273.
Great call by Herb Dean. It was over. #UFC273
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) April 10, 2022
Fight context matters in stoppages. Great job, Herb Dean. #UFC273
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) April 10, 2022
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That was honestly a brilliant stoppage by Herb Dean. We didn't need to see any more of this. #UFC273
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) April 10, 2022
Thank you, Herb Dean.
He stops the fight in the 4th. One of his best calls ever.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 10, 2022
Good stoppage from Herb Dean. He saw enough after Volkanovski rocked Zombie again.
That was a mauling. Zombie wasn't competitive in that fight for a minute.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) April 10, 2022
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For real, that stoppage by Herb Dean needs to be inserted ASAP into any and all referee training videos. He did TKZ a mercy. We don't see nearly enough proactive stoppages in MMA. Hopefully this leads to more. #UFC273
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) April 10, 2022
Well done, Herb Dean.
Alexander Volkanovski just blasted The Korean Zombie again and that was enough. If Zombie's corner won't stop it, the referee did his job right there.#UFC273
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 10, 2022
Excellent work by Herb Dean #UFC273
— Morning Kombat (@morningkombat) April 10, 2022
Herb Dean GREAT stoppage https://t.co/dxilaUKmsd
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 10, 2022
I think we, as a collective, should thank Herb Dean for doing what KZ's corner should have. #UFC273
— Stephie Haynes (@CrooklynMMA) April 10, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski scores a TKO win in the 4th.
Good stoppage by Herb Dean, that fight wasn't going anywhere good for TKZ.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 10, 2022
Zombie too tough for his own good and sometimes a referee has got to save fighters from themselves. Herb Dean did that tonight. https://t.co/E1n3kAfDDl
— Alex McCarthy (@AlexM_talkSPORT) April 10, 2022
Excellent stoppage by Herb Dean #UFC273
— Alexander K Lee (@AlexanderKLee) April 10, 2022
Herb Dean with the mercy stoppage. And Still. Alexander Volkanovski defends. #UFC273
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 10, 2022
That’s really a good stoppage by Herb Dean. He gave Jung’s corner a chance to stop it. But he wasn’t gonna let something stupid happen.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) April 10, 2022
Herb Dean stops it. No problem with that. Volk is so goddamn complete as a fighter. #UFC273
— John Hyon Ko (@JHKMMA) April 10, 2022
Earlier, UFC President Dana White criticized Herb Dean for not being confident with his approach inside the Octagon. Even Dan Hardy once went after Herb Dean for letting a fight go on for too long.
In recent times, Dean had some controversial calls that he would himself like to forget. That said, he has been one of the best referees in MMA for a long time.
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What do you think of Herb Dean’s decision to stop the fight in the main event of UFC 273: Alexander Volkanovski vs Chan Sung Jung? Share your opinion in the comments.
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