UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he addressed what he described as a significant officiating misstep during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout in question featured lightweights Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, with referee Kerry Hatley at the center of controversy due to his delayed intervention after Turner rendered Green unconscious.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience within the octagon, he allowed Turner to continue delivering strikes to an incapacitated Green for approximately 12 seconds before halting the fight. This incident has sparked outrage and concern across the mixed martial arts (MMA) community regarding fighter safety protocols.
Dana White's Harsh Critique
In a post-event interview, White did not hold back his criticism, labeling the stoppage as "one of the worst I've ever seen." He drew comparisons to past refereeing errors where officials made questionable comments justifying their decisions. However, White acknowledged that Hatley understood the gravity of his mistake and was remorseful about the situation.
The fighter on the winning end, Jalin Turner, recognized the stoppage was belated but defended his actions by stating that a fighter's job is to engage until the referee steps in. The fight officially lasted two minutes and forty-nine seconds. Following the first-round stoppage, Green was able to exit the Octagon without assistance, displaying sportsmanship by refraining from criticizing Hatley and instead praising Turner's performance.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected on Instagram. He continued, showing respect for his opponent, "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. I'm so happy for you. It means the world that you stepped up on short notice and you're having your success. So shout out to you."
Green was initially set to face Dan Hooker; however, an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw. Turner seized the opportunity to fill in on nine days' notice and took on the co-headlining bout, breaking a two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's UFC victories have been finishes, coming by way of knockout or submission.
Community Outcry Over Late Stoppage
The late stoppage has led to an outcry within the MMA community, prompting discussions about the importance of protecting fighters inside the cage. During the live broadcast on ESPN, former champion Michael Bisping expressed his disapproval, questioning Hatley's decision-making and emphasizing the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health. Bisping's sentiment was clear: "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? People's lives are at stake. Their long-term health is at stake. That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier echoed these sentiments on social media, calling it "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 on the ground, taking punches without timely intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also weighed in, describing the incident as "brutal" and asserting that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the sequence. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," he stated.
Even former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier joined the chorus of voices condemning the stoppage, labeling it as "horrible." As the MMA community reels from this incident, many await further actions or statements from the UFC and relevant regulatory authorities to address the concerns raised and prevent such occurrences in the future.
Ensuring fighter safety is paramount in combat sports, and incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the responsibilities held by referees to protect the athletes competing in the octagon. The fallout from this event may prompt a closer examination of officiating standards and procedures to safeguard the well-being of fighters, preserving the integrity of the sport.