UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the officiating of the fight between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout, which featured a first-round knockout by Turner, was marred by what many considered an egregious error by referee Kerry Hatley, who allowed the fight to continue for several seconds after Green had been rendered unconscious.
Immediate Backlash
Despite Hatley's extensive experience as a UFC referee, his hesitation to step in has become a focal point of criticism. It took 12 seconds after Turner landed the decisive blow before Hatley intervened, allowing Turner to land additional, unnecessary strikes on his defenseless opponent.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White declared in a post-event interview. He recalled past instances where referees have made questionable comments to justify their decisions but acknowledged that Hatley recognized his mistake, albeit after the fact. "He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate," White added.
Fighter's Perspective
Turner, while cognizant of the stoppage delay, stood by his actions, maintaining that a fighter's job is to continue until the referee steps in. This underscores a critical aspect of mixed martial arts, where fighters are trained to engage until officially halted by the referee to avoid any premature cessation that could affect the outcome of the contest.
The fight, lasting just two minutes and 49 seconds, concluded with Green exiting the Octagon without assistance, displaying sportsmanship despite the controversy. Rather than criticizing Hatley, Green took to Instagram to commend Turner, saying, "You win some, you lose some, I guess." He continued, "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Green's original opponent, Dan Hooker, had withdrawn due to an arm injury, prompting Turner to step in on nine days' notice.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 within the MMA community, raising serious questions about the need for stringent enforcement of fighter safety protocols.
During the ESPN live broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval. "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 questioned, emphasizing the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health. "That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful," he concluded.
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 drew attention to the severity of the situation, highlighting the image of a fighter prone on the ground, receiving punches without timely intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper echoed these sentiments, labeling the incident as "brutal" and pointing out the fighter's inability to defend himself intelligently during the onslaught. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," he stated.
Even former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier chimed in, calling it a "horrible stoppage." The MMA community now awaits any potential follow-up actions or statements from the UFC and regulatory bodies concerning the incident.
The outcry following the fight highlights an ongoing debate in combat sports over referee interventions and fighter safety. While the role of a referee is indeed challenging, requiring split-second decision-making under immense pressure, the paramount concern remains the well-being of the athletes. As the sport continues to evolve, so too must the scrutiny and training of those tasked with safeguarding the fighters inside the Octagon.