UFC 303 ref BLASTED over Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka II stoppage as legend screamed ‘stop the fight’

HERB DEAN was on the receiving end of criticism from Daniel Cormier for his stoppage of UFC 303's main event.

Alex Pereira retained his light-heavyweight title with a brutal second-round KO of Jiri Prochazka in the International Fight Week card's showpiece bout.

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A vicious switch kick separated Prochazka from consciousness and sent him crashing to the canvas.

The former 205lbs champion was clearly out but ate several unnecessary and academic follow-up shots before Dean waved off the contest.

And moments before the fight was halted, Cormier repeatedly shouted down the microphone: "Stop the fight! It's over."

As the veteran official finally called a halt to proceedings, the former two-division UFC champ sighed before adding: "Stop the fight, Herb Dean."

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MMA fans were equally unhappy with the stoppage, with one saying: "Herb Dean just letting Jiri get murdered."

Another said: "Jiri got the Herb Dean special."

And another said: "What did Jiri do to Herb dean, is my question?"

One remarked: "Herb Dean simulates duck, duck goose as a man almost loses his life on national TV."

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Another chimed in: "TERRIBLE stoppage by Herb Dean. Consistently out of position."

Victory over Prochazka was Pereira's second defence of the 205lbs crown, which he claimed last November.

He said of his latest victory: “It was great.

“I was saying all week I was going to come out here and be victorious.

"I don’t know what the next step is. I’m taking these opportunities.

"Everything that’s coming my way is positive so this is what I’m doing.”