UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the referee's performance in the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The fight, which featured a delayed stoppage by referee Kerry Hatley, has since sparked widespread criticism within the MMA community.
Hatley, despite his extensive experience as a UFC official, has come under fire for failing to promptly intervene after Turner knocked Green unconscious in the opening round. Turner landed additional strikes on his defenseless opponent for an unsettling 12 seconds before Hatley stepped in to halt the contest.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White stated in a post-event interview. He went on to compare this incident unfavorably with past refereeing errors, noting that while some referees have made questionable statements to justify their actions, Hatley recognized his mistake and felt remorse for the late stoppage.
Turner, for his part, defended his continuation in the fight, explaining that it is his responsibility as a fighter to keep going until the referee intervenes. This stance is consistent with the expectations placed upon fighters, who are trained to continue competing until officially stopped by the referee.
Green's Gracious Response
The fight, which lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, ended with Green leaving the Octagon unassisted. Despite the controversy surrounding the fight's conclusion, Green chose not to place blame on Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for seizing the opportunity and performing well under the circumstances.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. He continued by emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure both in victory and defeat, and congratulated Turner on his success, especially given the short notice on which he took the fight.
Originally, Green was scheduled to face Dan Hooker, but after Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury, Turner stepped in on just nine days' notice. This last-minute change led to Turner's opportunity to co-headline the event, where he snapped a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4, with all victories coming by way of knockout or submission.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has raised serious concerns about fighter safety, prompting discussions among fans, fighters, and commentators alike. During the live broadcast on ESPN, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, questioning what Hatley was waiting for and stressing the potential risks to the fighters' lives and long-term health.
"He was face down, he was getting teed off on by a world-class, very powerful striker. Kerry Hatley is a great referee, but what the hell was he waiting for?" Bisping remarked, labeling the oversight as "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Adding to the chorus of critics, former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier took to social media to describe the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier underscored the seriousness of the situation, highlighting that the fighter was prone on the ground and taking punches without the referee stepping in to protect him.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper expressed his thoughts as well, calling the incident "brutal" and pointing out that the fighter was unable to intelligently defend himself during the exchange. Hooper suggested that the referee should have intervened after one or two shots on the ground at most.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier also weighed in, agreeing with his peers by calling it a "horrible stoppage." The MMA community now looks to the UFC and relevant regulatory authorities for any potential actions or statements in response to the incident.
This event has once again highlighted the critical role of referees in ensuring the safety of fighters. Their decisions can have immediate and long-lasting impacts on the athletes' well-being. As the conversation continues, it is clear that the MMA community expects accountability and swift action to prevent such occurrences in the future.