Herb Dean decided to stop Kris Moutinho and Sean O’Malley with only a few seconds left in the clash

Sean O’Malley put on a clinical display at UFC 264. gainst late comer Kris Moutinho. However, the star of the fight, despite all the punches was still Moutinho.

While the result went O’Malley’s way after he lit Moutinho up several times in the fight, the end wasn’t as expected.

O’Malley didn’t KO his UFC debutant rival but needed Herb Dean to come in the middle. Of course, Dean could have decided to stop the fight since Moutinho took a ton of punches to the head.

However, the UFC debutant wasn’t wobbly and could have finished the clash. There were only 30 seconds or so left in the clash, and many UFC stars and reporters were unhappy with Dean’s decision.

#UFC264 Official Result: Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) defeats Kris Moutinho via TKO at 4:33 of Round 3.

All #UFC264 Results ⤵️:

— UFC News (@UFCNews) July 11, 2021

Joe Rogan was quick to call out Dean, even though he supported the referee and even Daniel Cormier didn’t understand why the fight was stopped.

I’d have loved to see him finish! One of the worst beatings I’ve ever seen but man kid fought with so much heart. He deserved to finish!

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 11, 2021

That's a bad stoppage. Obviously a phenomenal performance by Sean O'Malley but that was a bad call by Herb Dean #UFC264

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) July 11, 2021

Fight should have ended at the end of the first if the damage was a concern. There were 30 seconds left. Bad call. And it did Suga no favors.

Of course, that should not be the concern of a ref but it’s a byproduct of the ultra questionable decision.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 11, 2021

https://twitter.com/BulldozerBoser/status/1414052381331886085?s=20

You got to let him finish!! #Heart #UFC264 @MoutinhoKris

— Cortney Casey (@CastIron_Casey) July 11, 2021

https://twitter.com/thedeathstar_1/status/1414052246132822017?s=20

https://twitter.com/ALIAQUINTA/status/1414052182169694211?s=20

Herb has to let the kid go for his money smh #UFC264

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) July 11, 2021

Sean O’Malley also left confused with the stoppage

Early stoppages can save fighters and Moutinho was close to getting knocked out in the early round.

However, it is understandable that many stars wanted the UFC debutant to finish the fight.

Moutinho was the undoubted star in all this and even O’Malley praised his rival for taking the fight on 11 days notice.

With only 23 seconds left! ⏱@SugaSeanMMA gets the finish at #UFC264. pic.twitter.com/om5HzIqhG9

— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021

The Bantamweight star was also a little confused as to why the fight was stopped early but he understood why it might have been stopped.

In the end, Dean is the one closest to all the action and the referee has to make the call amidst a lot of pressure.

Many would have asked for the fight to be stopped if O’Malley got a big KO on Moutinho, and then Dean would have still been criticised.

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