UFC president Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the officiating of referee Kerry Hatley during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The event was marred by what many deemed a delayed stoppage in the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience within the octagon, he came under fire for his hesitation to halt the fight after Turner delivered a knockout blow to Green in the first round. Turner landed several additional strikes over a span of 12 seconds before Hatley intervened, prompting White to describe the scene as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
White continued, highlighting that while referees have made questionable statements in the past, Hatley recognized his error. "He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate," White added.
Turner, who won the match after two minutes and 49 seconds, defended his actions in the aftermath, stating that it is the fighter's job to continue until the referee steps in. This sentiment echoes the protocol within mixed martial arts where fighters are trained to engage until officially halted by the referee.
Green, who managed to leave the Octagon unaided following the stoppage, displayed commendable sportsmanship. He refrained from criticizing Hatley, instead choosing to praise Turner for his performance on social media. "You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green said. He emphasized grace in defeat, congratulating Turner: "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."
The fight against Turner was not Green's original plan; he was set to face Dan Hooker, who had to withdraw due to an arm injury. Turner stepped up on nine days' notice and turned the opportunity into a victory, snapping a two-fight losing streak and 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 controversy surrounding the late stoppage has sparked intense discussions within the MMA community about fighter safety protocols. Live on ESPN, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, questioning why Hatley allowed the fight to continue when Green was clearly incapacitated. "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 lamented.
Bisping wasn't alone in his concern. Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to call the incident "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 defenseless while taking hits without timely intervention from the official.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, labeling the incident as "brutal" and noting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently during the onslaught. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," Hooper stated.
Even former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier joined the chorus of critics, deeming it a "horrible stoppage." As the MMA community reels from the incident, there is an anticipation of potential actions or statements from the UFC and regulatory bodies to address the concerns raised.
The backlash from the incident underscores the delicate balance officials must maintain between allowing fighters to compete fully and protecting them from unnecessary harm. Referees bear the responsibility of making split-second decisions that can have lasting impacts on fighters' health and careers. In the wake of this event, the conversation around referee training and fight stoppage criteria is likely to be at the forefront of MMA regulatory discussions.
As the sport continues to evolve, so too must the vigilance of those tasked with safeguarding the well-being of its competitors. The response from the UFC and other authorities will be closely watched by fighters, fans, and stakeholders alike, who seek assurance that athlete safety remains paramount.