Fighter complains to Herb Dean about illegal shots following UFC Fight Night 279 loss

Herb
Dean is again involved in a controversy regarding illegal
shots. 

Dean was the third man in the Octagon when Andre Fili
(25-14) welcomed Vinicius
Oliveira (24-4) to the featherweight division at
UFC Fight Night 279 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Oliveira managed
to survive the first round despite being visibly hurt by body kicks
from Fili. “LokDog” went all guns blazing late in the second round
after stunning Fili. Oliveira rained a vicious barrage of shots on
Fili, forcing Dean to step in just before the bell in the second
round. 

Controversy Strikes Again

However, some of the shots landed by Oliveira in the finishing
sequence appeared to be on the back of the head, which is illegal.
Fili was subsequently seen complaining to Dean, who appeared to
check the fighter’s head. Dean also seemingly showed “Touchy” the
replay of the fight. 

Dean was involved in a similar controversy earlier this month
regarding Alex
Pereira’s loss against Ciryl Gane
at tUFC
White House. Gane won the interim heavyweight title by
finishing Pereira with a brutal barrage of shots. Some of the shots
landed by Gane on the ground appeared to be to the back of
Pereira’s head. Dean subsequently
released a video explaining his exact definition of “back of
the head” shots, which are to be deemed illegal.