UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he addressed what he deemed a significant officiating misstep during the recent UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. Veteran referee Kerry Hatley came under fire for what many have called a dangerously delayed stoppage in the fight between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green.
The controversy arose after Turner landed a blow that rendered Green unconscious in the opening round. Despite Green's evident incapacitation, Hatley allowed the bout to continue for an additional 12 seconds, during which Turner delivered several more strikes to his defenseless opponent before the referee finally intervened.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White said in a post-event interview. He compared this incident to past refereeing errors, where officials have made questionable comments defending their decisions. However, White acknowledged that Hatley recognized his mistake and regretted the oversight, characterizing the situation as unfortunate.
Turner, who was thrust into action on just nine days' notice, defended his continued assault, stating that a fighter is trained to keep going until the referee steps in. The fight officially lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, with Turner emerging victorious by first-round stoppage. Remarkably, Green managed to exit the Octagon without assistance despite the late stoppage and chose to take the high road, refraining from blaming Hatley.
On social media, Green displayed sportsmanship, saying, "You win some, you lose some, I guess." He extended congratulations to Turner, expressing genuine happiness for his opponent's success, especially given Turner's last-minute entry into the co-headlining bout. With this victory, Turner improved his UFC record to 7-4, with all wins coming by way of knockout or submission.
Community Response
The MMA community has been vocal in its criticism of the late stoppage, raising concerns about the implications such incidents have on fighter safety. During the ESPN live broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping condemned the non-intervention, pointing out the unnecessary risk posed to fighters' lives and long-term health. Bisping, known for his straightforward commentary, found the delay "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to Twitter to describe the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier emphasized the severity of the situation, noting the vulnerability of a fighter left prone on the canvas, receiving blows without the necessary protection from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, labeling the incident as "brutal" and highlighting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently during the onslaught. He suggested that the fight should have been halted after the initial couple of shots once Green hit the ground.
Even Dustin Poirier, the former interim lightweight champion, joined the chorus of disapproval, calling it a "horrible stoppage." The broader MMA community now anticipates further actions or statements from both the UFC and the regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing the sport.
The incident has sparked a renewed discussion on the critical role referees play in ensuring the safety of fighters. It underscores the fine line officials walk between allowing a fighter every chance to compete and stepping in to prevent unnecessary harm. As the sport continues to evolve, so too does the scrutiny on the split-second decisions made within the Octagon that can have lasting impacts on the athletes involved.
While the fallout from this event continues, the consensus remains clear: fighter safety must be paramount, and referees are entrusted with the grave responsibility of safeguarding the competitors while maintaining the integrity of the sport. The MMA community, along with the UFC's leadership, will no doubt be watching closely to see how such situations are addressed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.