UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the officiating of referee Kerry Hatley during the recent UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout in question saw Jalin Turner face off against Bobby Green, with a controversial stoppage that has since ignited a firestorm of criticism from fighters and fans alike.
Hatley, who boasts considerable experience as a UFC referee, found himself at the center of controversy for his hesitance to halt the fight after Turner rendered Green unconscious in the opening round. For a concerning 12 seconds, Turner continued to land strikes on his defenseless opponent before Hatley intervened—a delay that White described as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
The UFC president also recalled past instances where referees have made questionable comments, such as allowing a fighter to "be a warrior," but acknowledged that Hatley recognized his mistake and felt remorseful about the incident. Despite the mishap, Turner defended his actions, stating that it is the fighter's job to continue the assault until the referee steps in to stop the contest.
The fight officially lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, ending with Green exiting the Octagon without assistance. While the delayed stoppage sparked controversy, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for his performance, emphasizing sportsmanship in victory and defeat.
Green, who was originally set to face Dan Hooker, had his plans altered due to Hooker's withdrawal because of an arm injury. Turner capitalized on this opportunity by stepping in on just nine days' notice for the co-headlining bout. 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 been by knockout or submission.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has led to serious concerns within the MMA community about fighter safety. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping expressed his disapproval, questioning what Hatley was waiting for and pointing out the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health. Bisping labeled the incident as "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to denounce the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." He underscored the seriousness of the situation, noting the vulnerability of a fighter being prone on the ground while taking punches without timely intervention from the referee.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also commented, calling the incident "brutal" and noting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently during the sequence. He suggested that the referee should have stopped the fight after one or two shots once the fighter was grounded.
Even Dustin Poirier, the former interim lightweight champion, joined the chorus of voices condemning the stoppage as "horrible." As the MMA community reels from this event, many are awaiting a response or action from the UFC and relevant regulatory authorities regarding the incident.
The fallout from this fight highlights the critical role of referees in ensuring the safety of fighters inside the octagon. Their decisions can have lasting impacts on the health and well-being of athletes. As the conversation continues, it is clear that this incident will serve as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with officiating in the high-stakes world of mixed martial arts.
In the aftermath, there is an expectation that the UFC will reevaluate its protocols and perhaps provide additional training or guidance to referees to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Meanwhile, the MMA community hopes that lessons will be learned from this episode to enhance the sport's integrity and, most importantly, protect its fighters.