Bloody Elbow · Oct 5, 2021
Herb Dean explains why he allowed ‘exhausted’ Brian Ortega to continue fighting at UFC 266
Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Referee Herb Dean holds a finger in front of Brian Ortega before round four at UFC 266.UFC 266’s headliner between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega is already touted as one of the best featherweight champion fights in recent history. But there was a moment before the fourth round when “T-City” showed visible signs of struggle.
During the break, Ortega was seen being propped up on the stool, which according to Volkanovski, should’ve been a TKO stoppage already. He also appeared to have compromised his vision, which urged both referee Herb Dean and the ringside doctor to step in.