UFC Quick Quote: Herb Dean wanted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to tap, not snap

"In my mind, I was hoping that he would tap. Like, ‘Please, please make this easy for me. That looks like it’s on.’ I definitely [had a] heightened awareness at that time. I was really focused on that arm. But that’s how Antonio became who he is -- he didn’t get there by giving up. That guy’s done things that everyone thought was impossible time and time again because he never gives up. I stopped it because I saw the arm break. The tap came after. I don’t stop it when I believe it’s locked on or even if I believe the guy’s in jeopardy because I don’t know what that person can take. I don’t know what their limits are, but if I see an injury that is too dangerous for the fight to continue, that’s when I’m going to stop the fight. Or if I see the fighter tap. He was very calm. He’s an exceptional person. Even during that, with coordinating with the physicians and him getting out of there, at some point he started taking an active role. ‘OK, Herb, I want you to help me up.’ He was pretty calm through it."

Longtime mixed martial arts referee Herb Dean (via Sherdog.com), like most of the people watching the UFC 140 co-main event between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, was hoping to see "Minotauro" submit to the painful-looking Kimura slapped on by the former division champion. Regrettably, he did not, and left the Air Canada Centre back on Dec. 10 with his arm in a sling, which later required 16 screws and a titanium plate to correct. How about it Maniacs, anyone think Dean has an obligation to stop the fight before the tap to save the snap? Or is he simply an unbiased observer at the mercy of a fighter's judgment? Opinions, please.