UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he criticized referee Kerry Hatley for what he termed "one of the worst" stoppages he has ever seen. The incident occurred during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas, in a bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience officiating in the UFC, his judgement was called into question after he failed to promptly intervene following a decisive blow by Turner that left Green unconscious in the first round. Turner continued to land strikes on his defenseless opponent for an unsettling 12 seconds before Hatley stepped in to halt the fight.
"The difference is we've had some refs say some dumb stuff in the past, like 'I allowed her to be a warrior tonight,' and goofy things like that. He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate," White said in a post-event interview, expressing his disappointment over the situation.
Turner, while acknowledging the delayed stoppage, defended his actions by stating that as a fighter, it is his job to continue fighting until the referee intervenes. This sentiment echoes the protocol within mixed martial arts where fighters are trained to engage until officially stopped by the official overseeing the match.
Green's Gracious Response
The fight, which lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, ended with Green leaving the Octagon without assistance. Despite the controversy surrounding the stoppage, Green displayed sportsmanship by refraining from blaming Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for his performance.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. He added, "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."
Originally, Green was expected to face Dan Hooker, but after Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury, Turner stepped in on nine days' notice. Turner's decision to accept the co-headlining bout paid off, ending his two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's victories in the UFC have been finishes, coming via knockout or submission.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has raised alarm within the MMA community, sparking conversations about the critical importance of fighter safety. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping expressed his dismay at the incident, questioning why Hatley delayed stepping in, especially given 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, highlighting the severity of the lapse in judgement.
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier voiced his opinion on social media, calling it "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier underscored the seriousness of the situation, pointing out the vulnerability of a fighter being prone on the ground, receiving punches without the necessary timely intervention from the referee.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper chimed in, describing the incident as "brutal" and noting that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the sequence. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," he stated.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier also labeled it a "horrible stoppage." As the MMA community continues to react, there is anticipation for potential actions or statements from the UFC and relevant regulatory authorities regarding the incident.
The fallout from this event puts a spotlight on the responsibilities of referees to protect fighters, and it underscores the ongoing discussion about the need for consistent and timely interventions to ensure the well-being of athletes competing in the sport of mixed martial arts.