Transcript: Robbie Lawler and Herb Dean’s conversation immediately after controversial stoppage

Esther Lin, MMA FightingThe highly anticipated UFC 235 bout between former champion Robbie Lawler and Ben Askren ended in controversy. Referee Herb Dean called the fight thinking Lawler had passed out from Askren’s bulldog choke attempt, only for the former champ to pop back up and protest.

The UFC has since released parts of in-cage audio from that night, which included the conversation between Dean and Lawler. Check out the footage and the transcript below.

Immediately after the stoppage:

Lawler: “What the [expletive] are you doing?!”

Dean: “I thought you...”

Lawler: “I didn’t. What the [expletive]?!”

Almost instantly, Lawler went from protesting to accepting that it’s a part of the sport:

Lawler…