UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the officiating of referee Kerry Hatley during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The event was marred by what many have deemed a significant oversight by Hatley, who failed to promptly halt the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green after Turner rendered Green unconscious in the opening round.
Despite Hatley's seasoned history within the UFC, his hesitance to intervene allowed Turner to land additional strikes on an already defenseless Green for an excruciating 12 seconds. This delay prompted White to describe the incident as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
White continued, highlighting that while there have been referees in the past who have made questionable statements, such as allowing a fighter 'to be a warrior,' Hatley was fully aware that he had erred this time around. The regrettable nature of the mistake was evident, adding to the unfortunate nature of the event.
Turner, for his part, recognized the delayed stoppage but stood by his actions in the Octagon. He emphasized that a fighter's role is to continue the offensive until the referee steps in to stop the fight.
The fight officially lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, ending with Green's first-round stoppage. Remarkably, Green walked out of the Octagon without assistance and refrained from casting blame on Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for his performance, stating, "You win some, you lose some, I guess," and praising Turner for seizing the moment when he stepped up on short notice.
Originally, Green was set to face Dan Hooker, but an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw, leading to Turner taking the co-headlining spot on just nine days' notice. Turner's gamble paid off, snapping a two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4, with all wins coming by way of knockout or submission.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has ignited a firestorm of criticism within the MMA community, sparking serious discussions about fighter safety protocols. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, questioning what Hatley was waiting for as he watched Green take unnecessary damage from a "world-class, very powerful striker."
Bisping stressed the importance of considering the fighters' lives and long-term health, calling the incident "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, former two-weight UFC champion, echoed these sentiments on social media, labeling 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 receiving blows without timely intervention from the official.
Adding to the chorus of concern, UFC lightweight Chase Hooper described the stoppage as "brutal" and noted that the fighter was clearly unable to defend himself intelligently during those moments. Hooper suggested that the referee should have stopped the contest after one or two shots on the ground at most.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier also characterized the stoppage as "horrible." With the MMA community's leaders speaking out, attention now turns to the UFC and regulatory bodies for any forthcoming actions or statements regarding the incident and measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As the dust settles on this controversial event, the debate over the responsibilities of referees to protect fighters continues to intensify. The sport prides itself on toughness and resilience, but it also necessitates strict adherence to safety protocols to safeguard the well-being of its athletes. The scrutiny following the Turner-Green fight serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance officials must maintain between allowing a fair contest and ensuring the safety of the competitors within the high-stakes environment of mixed martial arts.