UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the officiating of referee Kerry Hatley at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The event was marred by what many have called a delayed stoppage during the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience as a UFC referee, his judgment came into question after he failed to promptly intervene following a knockdown. Turner landed a decisive blow that rendered Green unconscious in the first round, yet the action continued for an additional 12 seconds before Hatley stepped in to halt the fight.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White stated in a post-event interview. He went on to express his dissatisfaction with past refereeing errors but noted that Hatley was aware of his mistake and regretted the oversight. "He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate," White added.
Turner, who emerged victorious from the encounter, acknowledged the late stoppage but defended his actions inside the Octagon. He emphasized that a fighter's duty is to continue engaging their opponent until the referee signals the end of the contest.
The fight officially lasted two minutes and forty-nine seconds, culminating in a first-round stoppage. Remarkably, Green was able to leave the Octagon without assistance, despite the controversy surrounding the fight's conclusion. In a display of sportsmanship, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley and instead praised Turner via Instagram for seizing the moment and performing exceptionally well.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. 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. 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, but those plans were derailed when Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury. Turner took advantage of the opportunity, stepping in on nine days' notice for the co-headlining fight. His victory over Green snapped a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's wins in the promotion have come by way of knockout or submission.
Widespread Criticism and Concerns for Fighter Safety
The MMA community has been vocal in its criticism of the late stoppage, emphasizing the need for prompt and decisive action by referees to ensure fighter safety. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping condemned the incident, questioning Hatley's decision-making in light of 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 said, expressing both disappointment and concern. "People's lives are at stake. Their long-term health is at stake. That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to describe 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 ground and taking punches without timely intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also offered his perspective, labeling the incident as "brutal" and noting that the fighter was clearly unable to defend himself intelligently during the sequence. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," he commented.
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier deemed it a "horrible stoppage." As the MMA community reels from this incident, there is a growing expectation for the UFC and relevant regulatory bodies to address the matter and potentially implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The conversation around referee accountability and fighter safety continues to be a critical topic within the sport of mixed martial arts. Incidents like the one involving Hatley serve as stark reminders of the inherent dangers of combat sports and the paramount importance of vigilant officiating.