Herb Dean Defends 4:59 Moraes Submission Win, Says Nkuta Faded Before Final Bell

6 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 19

4:59 of Round 3 is when Herb Dean says Adriano Moraes finished Phumi Nkuta, with replay confirming Nkuta went unconscious a fraction of a second before the bell.
Dean said he initially focused on the fighters’ hand positions rather than Nkuta’s body, then used California’s existing replay authority for fight-ending situations to verify the timing.
A disqualification for Moraes briefly drew speculation because he held the choke slightly after time expired, but Dean said the delay was not egregious and was never under serious consideration.
The ruling preserved a comeback win for Moraes in his first fight since leaving ONE Championship and added controversy to Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions MMA debut on Netflix.
Dean also pointed to a coming California rules vote that would further clarify referees’ sole authority over fouls, warnings, point deductions and disqualifications to curb fighters gaming the rules.

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