- Herb Dean was forced to disqualify a ONE heavyweight fighter due to inactivity
- The veteran MMA official disqualified another fighter from the same card
Veteran MMA referee Herb Dean disqualified a ONE Championship fighter for not intentionally not engaging with his opponent.
Herb had to do it
ONE 166: Qatar is generating buzz not only because of the remarkable finishes in the main card but also because of the rare disqualifications handed out by Dean to two of the fighters who participated in the event. Among them was UFC veteran Arjan Bhullar.
Dean initially thought that Bhullar was just starting out slow in the opening round of his heavyweight clash with Amir Aliakbari. However, Bhullar did not change a thing in his style in the second round and Dean noticed that the Canadian was not doing anything to win.
Bhullar received two yellow cards from Dean for being inactive by the end of Round 2. Come third round, Dean figured he had seen enough as Bhullar still didn’t show any signs of fighting. He then issued a red card which meant that the fighter has been disqualified. Aliakbari was later declared as the winner via disqualification due to timidity.
Watch the clip below:
Herb Dean gives Arjan Bhullar a red card resulting in disqualification due to inactivity at #ONE166.
Bhullar was given two yellow card warnings prior to this for not engaging.#ONE166
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) March 1, 2024
ONE boss was disappointed
As expected, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong was not pleased by how Bhullar performed. He expressed his deep disappointment in his post-fight presser.
“There’s just no excuse. What Arjan did is unacceptable at ONE Championship. That’s the first time in the history of the company, of the organization that we’ve ever issued a red card on timidity. The first time ever. He didn’t wanna fight. If you don’t wanna fight then why are you a professional fighter?”
“You definitely not belong at the top of the world in martial arts. I was deeply disappointed in Arjan. I think he let down India. They will no longer look at him as a hero.”
Watch Sityodtong’s statement below:
Chatri Sityodtong goes off on Arjan Bhullar’s performance at #ONE166 😬
(🎥: @scmpmartialarts)
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) March 1, 2024
After Aliakbari vs. Bhullar, Dean disqualified another ONE fighter. Jared Brooks also experienced the same thing from Dean after pulling off an illegal slam on reigning flyweight champion Joshua Pacio.
Indeed, two disqualifications in one event is a rare occasion in MMA. Also, what Bhullar did at ONE 166: Qatar would probably have it place in the most embarrassing moments in MMA history.
