UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently made controversial claims about the UFC 300 main event between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill, specifically targeting the actions of veteran referee Herb Dean.
Specifically, Rogan’s comments centered on a brief pause in the fight after Hill accidentally landed a low blow on Pereira – with Dean stepping in to check on Pereira’s condition.
Pereira then waved off the referee, signaling that he was ready to continue; but Rogan suggested that this pause may have given Pereira an unfair advantage, leading to his knockout victory.
Rogan first aired his thoughts back in late April, saying:
All of a sudden he’s on him and he hits him with that left hook.
And I think Jamahal is saying, I would have never let him that close to me if it wasn’t for that nut shot and I didn’t know exactly what was going on.
However, Herb Dean strongly disagreed with Rogan’s interpretation.
During a recent podcast appearance, Dean stated:
There’s a couple of analysts in our sport who are really good at picking out sensational things, and they’re so sincere when they talk that talk.
I mean, I think they can talk you into believing their words over your own eyes.
Dean defended his actions, insisting that his handling of the situation was appropriate and that neither fighter moved during the brief pause:
After I call time out, no one moves.
I went back and looked at that… Was that mechanically correct? Was it clean?’
I watched it. I was, like: “Yeah, that looked clean.”
