UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he condemned the officiating of referee Kerry Hatley during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The fight in question saw Jalin Turner deliver a knockout blow to Bobby Green in the first round, which led to what many are calling an egregious delay in stopping the fight by the veteran referee.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience inside the Octagon, he allowed Turner to continue striking an unconscious Green for a concerning 12 seconds before finally intervening. White, in a post-event interview, described the oversight as "one of the worst I've ever seen."
"We've had some refs say some dumb stuff in the past, like 'I allowed her to be a warrior tonight,' and other goofy things like that," White explained. "But [Hatley] knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate."
Turner, on his part, acknowledged the delayed stoppage but defended his actions, stating that as a fighter, it is his job to keep fighting until the referee steps in to halt the contest.
The bout officially lasted two minutes and forty-nine seconds. Following the first-round stoppage, Green was able to leave the Octagon under his own power. Despite the controversy surrounding the fight's conclusion, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner's performance.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green said. "I just want to show people that you've got to keep it 'G' when you win, and you've got to keep it 'G' when you lose. Shout out to Jalin. You did your thing, brother. I'm so happy for you. It means the world that you stepped up on short notice and you're having your success. So shout out to you."
Green was initially set to face Dan Hooker; however, Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury. Turner seized the opportunity, stepping in on nine days' notice for the co-headlining bout. His victory over Green snapped a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's victories in the organization have come via knockout or submission.
MMA Community Reacts
The late stoppage has triggered widespread criticism within the MMA community, sparking conversations about the critical importance of fighter safety.
During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his strong disapproval of the incident. Bisping questioned the rationale behind the delayed intervention and highlighted the potential risks to 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. "People's lives are at stake. Their long-term health is at stake. That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier echoed these sentiments on social media, branding the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." He underscored the severity of the situation, with the fighter prone on the ground, taking punches without any timely intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, describing the incident as "brutal" and pointing out that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the ordeal. "The ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground, max," he asserted.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier joined the chorus of disapproval, deeming it a "horrible stoppage." As the MMA community continues to process the event, there is anticipation for potential actions or statements from the UFC and relevant regulatory bodies in response to the incident.
This episode has once again brought to the forefront the delicate balance referees must maintain between allowing a fighter to compete fully and protecting them from unnecessary harm. The fallout from this fight will likely influence how fights are officiated in the future, as the UFC and its regulators seek to prevent similar occurrences and ensure the safety and well-being of its athletes.