UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the officiating of referee Kerry Hatley during the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. In a sport where split-second decisions can have lasting implications, the delayed stoppage by Hatley after Turner knocked Green unconscious in the first round has become a flashpoint for controversy.
Despite Hatley's considerable experience within the octagon, his hesitation to halt the fight allowed Turner to land additional strikes on an unresponsive Green for a critical 12 seconds. This lapse prompted White to describe it as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
White also pointed out that while there have been past instances of referees making questionable statements, such as allowing fighters to continue under the guise of being a warrior, this situation was different. Hatley recognized his error, according to White, who noted the referee's regret over the incident.
Fighter Reactions
Turner, while acknowledging the delayed stoppage, stood by his actions, citing the fighter's duty to persist until the referee intervenes. The fight officially lasted two minutes and forty-nine seconds, ending with Green's first-round stoppage. Remarkably, Green walked out of the Octagon without assistance and refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for his performance, emphasizing sportsmanship in victory and defeat.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green stated. He continued, "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."
Green had initially been set to face Dan Hooker; however, an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw. Turner then stepped in on nine days' notice and made the most of the opportunity by snapping a two-fight losing streak, improving his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's UFC wins have been by knockout or submission.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has ignited a debate within the MMA community about fighter safety. Live on ESPN, former champion Michael Bisping condemned the oversight, questioning what Hatley was waiting for as Green lay defenseless against a powerful striker like Turner. Bisping stressed the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health, calling the incident "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to brand it "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 and unprotected while taking hits without timely intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper added his voice, describing the incident as "brutal" and noting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the ordeal. Hooper suggested that the fight should have been stopped after one or two ground strikes at most.
Similarly, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier labeled the stoppage as "horrible." The MMA community now looks to the UFC and regulatory authorities for their response to the incident and any subsequent actions they might take to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The outcry following the event is a stark reminder of the delicate balance officials must maintain between allowing fighters to compete fully and protecting them from unnecessary harm. As discussions continue, the incident serves as a catalyst for examining the protocols in place and ensuring that fighter welfare remains paramount in a sport as unforgiving as mixed martial arts.