UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he addressed what he described as a grossly delayed stoppage by referee Kerry Hatley during the fight between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. Despite Hatley's considerable experience officiating in the octagon, he came under fire for his hesitation to halt the bout after Turner landed a knockout blow on Green in the opening round.
The incident occurred when Turner rendered Green unconscious with a precise strike, yet it took an additional 12 seconds of Turner delivering unanswered blows before Hatley intervened. The scene was distressing enough to prompt White to label it as "one of the worst I've ever seen" in a post-event interview.
White also referenced past instances where referees have made questionable comments to justify their actions, but acknowledged that Hatley recognized his mistake, adding, "He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate."
Turner Defends His Actions
Turner, who emerged victorious from the encounter, stood by his actions, emphasizing that a fighter's job is to continue the offensive until the referee steps in to stop the fight. This adherence to protocol, while not absolving the referee's delay, puts the onus on the official to protect the fighters' safety.
The fight, which lasted just two minutes and 49 seconds, ended with Green able to exit the Octagon without assistance. Despite the controversy surrounding the stoppage, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner, stating, "You win some, you lose some, I guess," and continued to express his admiration for Turner stepping up on short notice and achieving success.
Green had been scheduled to face Dan Hooker initially, but after Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury, Turner seized the opportunity. Accepting the co-headlining bout on nine days' notice, Turner not only snapped a two-fight losing streak but improved his UFC record to 7-4, with all victories coming by way of knockout or submission.
Community Reaction
The MMA community has not been silent on the issue, with many prominent figures expressing their concerns over the late stoppage. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, questioning what Hatley was waiting for as Green lay prone, taking shots from a "world-class, very powerful striker." Bisping stressed the potential risks involved, stating, "People's lives are at stake. Their long-term health is at stake. That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to decry the incident as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history," highlighting the severity of a fighter being left defenseless on the ground. UFC lightweight Chase Hooper echoed these sentiments, describing the situation as "brutal" and noting that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently during the onslaught.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier joined the chorus of disapproval, calling it a "horrible stoppage." With such a strong reaction from across the MMA world, the community awaits any potential responses or actions from the UFC and the relevant regulatory bodies concerning the incident.
The outcry following the fight underscores the critical importance of referee intervention in combat sports. It serves as a sobering reminder that the safety of athletes must always be paramount. As the sport continues to evolve, this incident will likely fuel further discussions on how to ensure that fighter safety remains at the forefront of the sport's development.
In the wake of the event, the focus is not only on the remarkable resilience and sportsmanship shown by Bobby Green but also on the necessary scrutiny and education required to prevent such occurrences in the future. As officials are entrusted with the critical role of safeguarding the well-being of the fighters, the MMA community calls for heightened vigilance and swift action to uphold the integrity of the sport.