UFC President Dana White did not mince words when addressing what he considered a significant officiating error during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout in question featured lightweights Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, where a first-round knockout led to a controversially delayed stoppage by referee Kerry Hatley.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience within the UFC's cadre of referees, his hesitation to halt the fight after Turner rendered Green unconscious has drawn sharp criticism. It took 12 seconds from the moment Green was incapacitated for Hatley to intervene, allowing Turner to continue delivering strikes to his defenseless opponent.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White said in a post-event interview. He contrasted this incident with past refereeing errors, noting that although some officials have made questionable statements about their decisions, Hatley recognized his mistake and regretted it.
Turner, who emerged victorious after two minutes and forty-nine seconds into the fight, acknowledged the delayed stoppage but defended his actions in the octagon. He reiterated a fighter's duty to continue the assault until the referee steps in, absolving himself of responsibility for the late stoppage.
Green's Gracious Response
Green, who managed to leave the Octagon without assistance, refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for seizing the opportunity and performing well under the circumstances. "You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green stated, emphasizing sportsmanship and respect for his opponent, who had taken the fight on short notice.
Originally set to face Dan Hooker, Green's plans changed after Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury. Turner stepped in with just nine days' notice, and with his victory, snapped a two-fight losing streak, improving his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's wins in the organization have been finishes—by knockout or submission.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has ignited a debate within the MMA community about the need for prompt and decisive action by referees to ensure fighter safety. During the ESPN live broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping expressed his dismay at the situation, questioning what Hatley was waiting for as he watched a world-class striker like Turner land unopposed blows on Green.
"People's lives are at stake. Their long-term health is at stake. That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful," Bisping remarked, emphasizing the potential consequences of such oversights.
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to describe the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier underscored the seriousness of the situation, pointing out the danger of a fighter being prone and taking punches without the necessary intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper echoed these sentiments, calling the incident "brutal" and highlighting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the ordeal. He suggested that the fight should have been stopped after the first couple of shots once Green was grounded.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier also labeled it a "horrible stoppage," joining the chorus of fighters and fans alike who await further action or statements from the UFC and other relevant regulatory bodies concerning the incident.
The outcry following the event serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in combat sports and the critical role referees play in safeguarding the athletes. As the conversation continues, the MMA community looks toward enhancing protocols and training for officials to prevent similar occurrences in the future, prioritizing fighter safety above all else.