UFC ref Herb Dean hits back at Dan Hardy for ‘putting on Superman shirt’ over Fight Island stoppage
- Former fighter Hardy told Dean ‘do your job’ and screamed out ‘stop the fight’ after controversial KO in Abu Dhabi
- Dean says Trinaldo’s TKO over Herbert was ‘by now means a late stoppage’ and says Hardy’s actions potentially dangerous
Referee Herb Dean has hit back at Dan Hardy following the UFC commentator and former fighter’s criticism of his officiating at UFC Fight Island 3.
Hardy screamed “stop the fight” as Dean dithered on stepping in after Francisco Trinaldo had clearly knocked out Jai Herbert on Sunday’s preliminary card in Abu Dhabi.
Trinaldo hesitated in firing off more shots on the ground after the British fighter hit the canvas hard following an overhand left. Dean eventually waived it off when the Brazilian put in a couple of half-hearted hits to the head, and Hardy was later overheard telling the referee “that’s my job, now you do yours” following a cageside argument.
Dean posted a video on Instagram defending his actions, saying it was by no means a late stoppage and that Hardy’s yelling during the end of the fight inside the empty Flash Forum on Fight Island was dangerous and uncalled for.
“What I really want to get into right now is during the match someone yelled out, ‘Stop the fight’,” Dean said. “It’s really interesting because there’s only professionals there and there’s not one fan in the building. Everybody has a job there, everybody knows what their job is and they have specific duties.