UFC President Dana White did not mince words in his post-event interview when he lambasted referee Kerry Hatley for what he deemed an excessively delayed stoppage during the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green. The fight, which took place at UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas, has since been enveloped in controversy due to the officiating.
Despite Hatley's considerable experience within the UFC's refereeing ranks, his judgment was called into question after he failed to promptly intervene once Turner rendered Green unconscious with a powerful blow in the first round. Turner, adhering to the fighter's creed of not stopping until the referee steps in, continued to deliver strikes to his defenseless opponent for an unsettling 12 seconds before Hatley finally halted the match.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White said, expressing his dismay over the incident. He further differentiated this situation from past occurrences where referees have made questionable comments by noting that Hatley recognized his error and felt remorseful about the oversight, which White considered unfortunate.
In the wake of the late stoppage, Turner stood by his actions, stating that it is his job as a competitor to continue fighting until the official signals otherwise. The match officially lasted two minutes and forty-nine seconds, culminating in a first-round stoppage that allowed Green to exit the Octagon without assistance.
Green, who had been preparing to face Dan Hooker before Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury, exhibited sportsmanship by refraining from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for seizing the opportunity on short notice and performing admirably under the circumstances.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. He emphasized the importance of maintaining grace in both victory and defeat, congratulating Turner: "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."
Turner's last-minute decision to step into the co-headlining bout paid off, snapping a two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4. Impressively, all of Turner's wins in the organization have come by way of knockout or submission.
MMA Community Reacts
The controversy surrounding the late stoppage has ignited a firestorm of criticism from notable figures within the MMA community, sparking a conversation about the paramount importance of fighter safety.
During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping didn't hold back in expressing his condemnation of the stoppage. Bisping questioned Hatley's delayed reaction, stressing the serious risks to fighters' immediate 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."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, echoed these sentiments on social media, branding the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier underscored the severity of the situation, pointing out the danger of a fighter being prone on the canvas, receiving blows without the referee's timely intervention.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, describing the incident as "brutal" and noting that the fighter was clearly unable to defend himself intelligently during the onslaught. Hooper suggested that the referee should have stopped the fight after the first couple of shots landed on the grounded fighter.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier joined the chorus of disapproval, condemning the stoppage as "horrible." As the MMA community reels from the fallout, there is an anticipation of potential responses or measures from the UFC and regulatory bodies concerning the incident.
The outcry following the event highlights an ongoing concern within combat sports regarding the balance between entertainment and athlete safety. While the UFC has not yet issued a formal statement on the matter, the debate underscores the critical role that referees play in ensuring the well-being of fighters, and it serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with the position.