UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he expressed his strong disapproval of referee Kerry Hatley's performance during the recent UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout in question featured lightweights Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, where a delayed stoppage by Hatley has become the subject of widespread criticism.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience officiating in the octagon, he allowed Turner to continue landing strikes on an unconscious Green for approximately 12 seconds before intervening. This occurred after Turner delivered a knockout blow in the first round of their contest. White, known for his candid demeanor, described the late stoppage as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
White highlighted past instances where referees have made controversial statements to justify their decisions, but noted that in this case, 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.
Fighter's Perspective
Turner, who secured victory with the first-round stoppage, acknowledged the delay in the fight's conclusion but defended his actions in the cage. He emphasized that as a fighter, his job is to continue the attack until the referee steps in to halt the action. This sentiment echoes the unwritten rule within MMA that fighters are trained to follow the referee's guidance at all times during a bout.
The fight officially lasted two minutes and 49 seconds. Notably, Green displayed sportsmanship by exiting the Octagon unassisted and refrained from blaming Hatley for the incident. Instead, he took to social media to commend Turner for seizing the opportunity and performing admirably. "You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green stated on Instagram, adding, "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."
Green had initially been scheduled to face Dan Hooker; however, after Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury, Turner stepped in on nine days' notice. This last-minute change proved fortuitous for Turner, who snapped a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4. Impressively, all of Turner's victories in the promotion have come by way of knockout or submission.
Community Reaction
The incident did not go unnoticed by the larger MMA community, prompting discussions about fighter safety and the responsibilities of officials. During the live ESPN broadcast, former middleweight champion Michael Bisping expressed his dismay, questioning why Hatley waited so long to stop the fight given the apparent danger to Green's health and 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 remarked. He underscored the high stakes involved, pointing out that fighter safety should be of paramount concern.
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier took to social media to denounce the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier highlighted the critical moment when Green was prone on the canvas, receiving unanswered blows without timely intervention from Hatley.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also weighed in, describing the sequence as "brutal" and noting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently. Hooper suggested that the fight should have been stopped after one or two ground strikes at most.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier echoed these sentiments, labeling the stoppage as "horrible." As the MMA community continues to process the event, many are awaiting potential responses or actions from the UFC and other regulatory bodies concerning the incident.
The outcry following the Turner-Green fight serves as a stark reminder of the critical role referees play in ensuring the safety of fighters. While the fast-paced and dynamic nature of MMA can make officiating challenging, the consensus within the community is clear: fighter protection should always be the top priority, and any failure in this regard must be addressed to maintain the integrity of the sport.