UFC President Dana White did not mince words in his criticism of referee Kerry Hatley following a controversial late stoppage during the UFC Fight Night event in Austin, Texas. The bout in question saw Jalin Turner defeat Bobby Green after a first-round knockout that left many—including White—questioning the referee's judgment.
Hatley, who boasts a wealth of experience as a UFC official, has come under fire for his hesitation to intervene after Turner rendered Green unconscious with a powerful strike. An additional 12 seconds elapsed before Hatley stepped in to halt the fight, during which Turner continued to land blows on his defenseless opponent.
"It was one of the worst I've ever seen," White stated in a post-event interview, clearly disturbed by the incident.
White referenced past instances where referees have made questionable comments, such as allowing fighters to "be a warrior." However, he acknowledged that Hatley recognized his mistake, adding, "He knows he made a mistake tonight and does not feel good about it, so it's unfortunate."
Turner Defends His Actions
Despite the backlash towards the referee, Turner defended his actions in the octagon, stating that it is his job as a fighter to continue until the referee steps in. This sentiment underscores a critical aspect of mixed martial arts, where fighters are trained to proceed until officially stopped, placing significant responsibility on referees to ensure timely intervention.
The fight, which lasted just two minutes and 49 seconds, concluded with Green able to exit the Octagon without assistance. In a display of sportsmanship, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner's performance and maintain a positive outlook despite the loss.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. 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. 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 had initially been set to face Dan Hooker, but an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw. Turner seized the opportunity, stepping in on nine days' notice for the co-headlining slot. 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 Response
The MMA community has been vocal in its response to the late stoppage, igniting discussions about fighter safety and the responsibilities of referees. During the ESPN live broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping did not hold back in expressing his disapproval. Bisping highlighted the potential consequences of such delayed interventions, pointing out the risk to the fighters' lives and long-term health.
"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, calling the incident "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
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 emphasized the severity of the situation, with the fighter prone on the ground and taking punches without timely intervention from the referee.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, branding 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," he opined.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier concurred, labeling it a "horrible stoppage." With the MMA community still reeling from the event, there is an anticipation for potential responses or actions from the UFC and relevant governing bodies in the wake of this controversy.
As the dust settles on this contentious moment in UFC history, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fine line referees walk between allowing a fighter to compete and ensuring their safety. The dialogue surrounding this event will likely influence future considerations for referee training and protocols within the sport.