Herb Dean Backs UFC 319 Referee’s Decision To Stand Khamzat Chimaev Up Against Dricus Du Plessis
There are always controversies in the UFC, from judges’ scorecards to early stoppages. At UFC 319, one such moment came when referee Marc Goddard decided to stand Khamzat Chimaev up during his fight with Dricus Du Plessis. The call caught some attention and even MMA legends like Demetrious Johnson slammed it, but Herb Dean believes it was the right move.
Herb Dean spoke to Helen Yee about the moment Marc Goddard stood Chimaev up during a fight. He said the standups were fine because ‘Borz’ was already winning. In MMA, a fighter can be in a strong ground position but not be able to do much. Staying there can sometimes just waste time instead of helping win.
Dean added that Chimaev wasn’t hiding or being passive on purpose. His position made it hard to land punches or attacks. By standing them up, the referee kept the fight moving and fair. Dean’s point is that when a fighter can’t make progress on the ground, a standup is the right call.
He said, “I don’t think anything was wrong with his [Marc Goddard] standups. Khamzat dominated the fight round. But what do we want this sport to look like? Do we want people to achieve dominant position which, if you’re not using to beat your opponent, could almost be looked at as a hiding place, as a place to burn time.”
Herb Dean defends Marc Goddard for standing Khamzat Chimaev up during the fight 👀😳
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 21, 2025
"I don’t think anything was wrong with his [Marc Goddard] standups. Khamzat dominated the fight round. But what do we want this sport to look like? Do we want people to achieve dominant position… pic.twitter.com/xLgRZot94T
When a fighter gets stuck in one of those situations where they can’t create damage or advance their position effectively, the referee stepping in to restart the action on the feet keeps things competitive and engaging.
Dana White Hints At Potential Khamzat Chimaev’s Next Opponent
Chimaev beat Dricus Du Plessis in a dominant win, even with a short referee break. Now the focus is on who fights him next for the middleweight title. Dana White said the winner of Reinier de Ridder vs Anthony Hernandez or Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho could get the chance.
These two fights will decide the next big challenger in the division. Indeed, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Chimaev wants to face Reinier de Ridder, but for that to happen, RDR first has to get past Anthony Hernandez, who is a very tough opponent.
Herb Dean Backs UFC 319 Referee’s Decision To Stand Khamzat Chimaev Up Against Dricus Du Plessis
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