Referee Herb Dean makes mess of The Ultimate Fighter 34 fight with confusing call
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Veteran referee Herb Dean faced criticism for his confusing stoppage and subsequent restart during a bantamweight bout between Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu and Xavier Franklin on The Ultimate Fighter 34.
- Dean initially stopped the fight after Franklin landed a hard right punch, but Akylbek Uulu claimed an eye poke, prompting a video review and the unusual decision to resume the fight with 50 seconds remaining.
- Despite the controversy, Akylbek Uulu won the fight by decision, advancing to the TUF 34 bantamweight final, while commentators and coaches expressed sympathy for Franklin, who appeared to have secured a stoppage before the review.
- The incident sparked debate over the legitimacy of the eye poke claim and Dean’s handling of the situation, with viewers and UFC figures questioning the clarity and consistency of the referee’s decisions.
- Akylbek Uulu will face either Christian Strong or Mehemmedeli Osmanli in the bantamweight final, continuing the tournament amid ongoing scrutiny of officiating standards.
