UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he expressed his dismay over what he described as one of the most egregious refereeing errors he's witnessed in the promotion. The incident in question occurred during a bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. Referee Kerry Hatley, despite his extensive experience within the Octagon, faced scathing criticism for his handling of the fight's conclusion.
Controversial Stoppage
The controversy stems from a sequence in the first round where Turner knocked Green unconscious with a precision strike. However, instead of promptly halting the match, Hatley allowed the action to continue for an additional 12 seconds. During this time, Turner landed several more strikes on his defenseless opponent before the referee intervened—a delay that has sparked widespread condemnation.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White stated during a post-event interview. He recalled past instances where referees made questionable comments, but emphasized that Hatley was aware of his mistake and regretted the oversight. This acknowledgment, however, does little to mitigate the potential risks to fighter safety such delays can cause.
Turner, who emerged victorious after two minutes and 49 seconds of action, defended his continued strikes, reiterating the fighter's creed to keep attacking until the referee steps in. Green, displaying sportsmanship, refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner's performance, highlighting the importance of grace in both victory and defeat.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. "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."
Green had been initially set to face Dan Hooker; however, an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw. Seizing the opportunity, Turner stepped in on nine days' notice and successfully snapped a two-fight losing streak, improving his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's victories in the UFC have been finishes by knockout or submission.
Community Backlash
The MMA community has been vocal about their concerns following the late stoppage. Live on ESPN, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, stressing the potential life-altering consequences of such oversights.
"He was face down, getting teed off on by a world-class, very powerful striker," Bisping remarked. "Kerry Hatley is a great referee, but what the hell was he waiting for?"
His sentiments were echoed by former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier, who took to social media to brand 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 and receiving unanswered blows.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, describing the incident as "brutal" and emphasizing that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently. Dustin Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion, agreed, labeling it a "horrible stoppage."
The MMA community now awaits further action or statements from the UFC and relevant governing bodies regarding the incident. Ensuring fighter safety is paramount, and incidents like these highlight the need for constant vigilance and prompt decision-making by referees to protect the athletes who compete in the sport.
In the aftermath of such events, the conversation often turns to how the sport can better safeguard its fighters. Training and certifying referees to the highest standards is crucial, as are clear guidelines and accountability measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. As the UFC continues to evolve and grow in popularity, maintaining the integrity of the sport and the well-being of its competitors remains a top priority.