The first time Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier met in the Octagon before their fateful encounter at UFC 291 last night for the BMF title, it ended with Herb Dean stopping the bout and Gaethje cursing him out for doing so. Dean’s actions did seem justified. ‘The Highlight’ had been rocked with a hard counter by Poirier and fell to his knees, seemingly out on his feet. It was one of the greatest fights in UFC history, and fans had been clamoring for a rematch that they got five years later.

This time around, Gaethje dropped ‘The Diamond’ with a spectacular high kick to his head a minute into the second round, winning the BMF belt. And Herb Dean was in the thick of it. Fans have taken to the internet to accuse the veteran ref of using a WWE finishing move on a defeated Poirier.

Fans accuse Herb Dean of using The Rock’s finishing move on Dustin Poirier

As Poirier fell to the ground from Gaethje’s head kick, Herb Dean quickly jumped on Poirier to stop the fight and protect the New Orleans native from receiving any more hammer fists from Gaethje as he lay knocked out on the floor.

A video of Herb jumping on Poirier has become a meme and has been doing the rounds on the internet. UFC fans, in their customary humorous vein, accused Dean of dropping ‘The People’s Elbow’, the finishing move of WWE superstar The Rock, on a helpless Poirier as he lay concussed and writhing on the ground.

Of course, Dean jumped on Poirier with such swiftness to ensure he did not get battered by Gaethje and suffer any permanent damage, in line with his reputation as an excellent referee.

Fans react to Herb Dean jumping on Dustin Poirier

But fans, of course, were having none of it and chose to see it as an assault on the hapless fighter. Many fans did appreciate Dean’s timely intervention, but here’s a snapshot of those who saw the funny side of the affair:

• Herb Dean via WWE finishing move.

• Man dropped the people’s elbow

• Herb casually dropping a people’s elbow on dustin 😂

• Herb with the people’s elbow 😭😭

• Stopped early!! Herb should have landed some follow ups

Read More – “ I Think, at His Core”- Calling Justin Gaethje a “Reckless Guy”, Dustin Poirier Claims His BMF Opponent “Wants to Brawl” at UFC 291

• “Look Jr it’s the most electrifying move in all of sports entertainment… THE PEOPLES ELBOW (shrieks)😂😂

• Herb dean to wwe confirmed

• Like shawn micheals ✨💪🏼

• Dustin was actually still good until Herb landed on him

The bout between Gaethje and Poirier may have been short, but a fantastic knock out crowned it. What did you think about Herb Dean’s actions at the end of the fight? Let us know in the comments section below.

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