UFC 291 referee Herb Dean accidentally ‘drops Rock’s People’s Elbow’ onto Dustin Poirier after brutal Justin Gaethje KO

MMA fans have jokingly slammed Herb Dean for hitting Dustin Poirier with a “People’s Elbow” after he was knocked out by Justin Gaethje.

Fan favourite Poirier was KO’d by a stunning head kick in the second round of the battle of former interim lightweight champions, which headlined UFC 291 in Salt Lake City.

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Justin Gaethje renewed his rivalry with Dustin Poirier at UFC 291[/caption]

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The Highlight brutally knocked out his fellow fan favourite with a vicious head kick[/caption]

Poirier was accidentally elbowed by Herb Dean as the ref bid to stop the contestUFC/ESPN

The Diamond collapsed to the canvas after the kick wrapped around the side and back of his head.

Gaethje, 34, closed the show with a big hammerfist before ref Dean slid in and waved off the contest.

Veteran official Dean, however, accidentally landed on a fallen Poirier as he jumped in to stop Gaethje from landing more unnecessary blows.

And viewers likened it to the “People’s Elbow” – the iconic finisher of WWE legend The Rock.

One watcher tweeted: “People’s Elbow by Herb Dean.”

Another said: “Herb Dean hit the people’s elbow on Dustin Poirier.”

And another said: “Herb Dean hit Porier with the people’s elbow”

One remarked: “Bro!! Herb Dean dropped the people’s elbow on Poirier.”

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Justin Gaethje was overcome with emotion after knocking out Dustin Poirier[/caption]

Another chimed in: “Herb Dean saw Dustin go down and decided to drop the people’s elbow to make sure he stayed down.”

Victory over Poirier saw Gaethje claim the vacant BMF title and put him on course for a third crack at the undisputed lightweight title.

In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, he said: “You know what I want to do next, I want to fight for the world championship.

“These guys [Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira] are fighting in October and I want to prove I’m in the best in the world.

“Win lose or draw, maximum effort is what you’re going to get out of me.”

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Victory in his rematch with ‘The Diamond’ bagged Gaethje the BMF title[/caption]

A crestfallen Poirier said: “That’s fighting, that’s why I love this sport. It’s the theatre of the unknown. It’s heartbreaking, but I keep coming back like pookie.

“It keeps calling me, I can’t stop. So we’ll see what happens, man. I might need another hit, I don’t know.

I’m just taking it one day at a time, one minute at at time. But I’m happy.

“My life is good, my family is good, my daughter is excited for me to get home.

“We’re not at a funeral here. I’ve won. I’ve won life. Where I come from, I already won.”