UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he took aim at referee Kerry Hatley for what he described as a severely delayed stoppage during the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green. The incident occurred at UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas, and has since ignited a firestorm of criticism from various corners of the MMA community.
Despite Hatley's considerable experience officiating in the UFC, he hesitated to step in after Turner delivered a knockout blow to Green in the opening round. The delay allowed Turner to land additional strikes on his unconscious opponent for approximately 12 seconds before Hatley intervened. This lapse prompted White to label it "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
The UFC president also pointed out past instances where referees have made questionable statements to justify their decisions, but he acknowledged that Hatley recognized his error. "He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate," White added.
Turner, for his part, admitted the stoppage came later than it should have. However, he defended his actions by stating that a fighter's job is to continue the offensive until the referee steps in. The fight officially lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, with Green able to exit the Octagon under his own power despite the controversy.
Green refrained from casting blame on Hatley, choosing instead to praise Turner for his performance. On Instagram, Green conveyed his philosophy on handling both victory and defeat with grace, congratulating Turner on seizing the moment and achieving success on short notice.
Originally, Green was set to face Dan Hooker, who had to withdraw due to an arm injury. Turner then stepped in on nine days' notice for the co-headlining bout, snapping a two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4. All of Turner's victories within the organization have been finishes, either by knockout or submission.
Community Outcry Over Refereeing Standards
The late stoppage has raised alarm within the MMA community, sparking conversations about the critical need to prioritize fighter safety.
During the ESPN broadcast, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, questioning Hatley's decision-making and stressing the dire implications such oversights could have on the athletes' well-being. "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. He condemned the incident as "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-division UFC champion, took to social media to denounce 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 incapacitated on the ground while continuing to take hits without timely intervention from the referee.
Chase Hooper, a fellow UFC lightweight, also shared his perspective, describing the scene as "brutal" and noting that the fighter was clearly unable to defend himself intelligently. He suggested that the referee should have stopped the fight after the first couple of strikes once the fighter was grounded.
Adding to the chorus of critics, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier also labeled the incident a "horrible stoppage." With the MMA community in uproar, there is an anticipation of potential responses or measures from the UFC and regulatory bodies concerning the fallout from this event.
The aftermath of the Turner-Green fight serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities referees hold in ensuring the safety of fighters competing in the octagon. As the debate continues, it underscores the ongoing discussion within combat sports regarding the balance between entertainment and athlete welfare.