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 delayed stoppage by referee Kerry Hatley has become the focal point of post-fight discussions.
Despite Hatley's reputation and experience within the octagon, his hesitation to step in promptly after Turner rendered Green unconscious with a first-round knockout has drawn White's ire. Turner was allowed to continue delivering strikes to his defenseless opponent for an unsettling 12 seconds before Hatley intervened. "It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White stated in a post-event interview, highlighting the gravity of the oversight.
White went on to differentiate this incident from past refereeing mistakes, noting that while some referees have made questionable comments in the past, Hatley is aware of his mistake and is remorseful, which White sees as a regrettable but important distinction.
Turner, for his part, acknowledged the late stoppage but stood behind his actions, emphasizing that it is a fighter's duty to continue until the referee steps in. This perspective reflects the fighter's adherence to the rules of engagement, even amidst situations that may call for discretionary judgment.
The fight officially lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, ending with Green exiting the Octagon under his own power. In a display of sportsmanship, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley, choosing instead to praise Turner for his performance in a gracious Instagram post. "You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green said, adding, "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."
Originally set to face Dan Hooker, Green's opponent was changed after Hooker pulled out due to an arm injury. Turner seized the opportunity, accepting the co-headlining fight on nine days' notice. His victory over Green snapped a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4, with all wins coming by way of knockout or submission.
Community Reaction
The MMA community has expressed widespread concern over the incident, sparking conversations about fighter safety and the responsibilities of officials. During the ESPN live broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping voiced his disapproval, questioning Hatley's decision-making process and underscoring the potential risks to the fighters' well-being. "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 remarked, denouncing the situation as "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to brand the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." He underscored the seriousness of the scenario, pointing out the risk involved when a fighter is prone and taking punches without timely intervention.
Adding to the chorus of concern, UFC lightweight Chase Hooper described the scene as "brutal" and noted that Green was clearly unable to defend himself intelligently during the onslaught. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," he commented.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier joined the criticism, labeling the stoppage as "horrible." As the MMA community processes the event, there is an anticipation for any forthcoming actions or statements from the UFC and regulatory bodies regarding the incident.
This episode has once again brought to the forefront the critical role referees play in ensuring fighter safety. While acknowledging the difficulty of their job, the consensus is clear: the protection of athletes inside the cage must be paramount. As the UFC continues to evolve and grow, the scrutiny on officiating standards and protocols will likely intensify, with the hope that lessons learned from such incidents will lead to enhanced safeguards for the fighters who compete in the sport.