UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he criticized referee Kerry Hatley for what he described as a delayed stoppage in the bout between Jalin Turner and Bobby Green at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. Despite Hatley's extensive experience within the Octagon, White was appalled by the referee's hesitance to intervene after Turner rendered Green unconscious with a decisive blow in the first round.
Controversial Stoppage
The incident in question occurred after Turner landed a knockout punch on Green. However, Hatley's delay allowed Turner to continue delivering strikes to his defenseless opponent for an alarming 12 seconds before the fight was finally halted. The UFC president labeled this as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview. He also pointed out that while referees have made questionable statements in the past, Hatley was aware of his mistake and regretted the oversight.
Turner, who secured the win after two minutes and 49 seconds into the first round, defended his actions by stating it is the fighter's responsibility to continue the assault until the referee steps in to stop the fight. Fortunately, despite the controversy surrounding the stoppage, Green was able to leave the Octagon under his own power.
Green refrained from criticizing Hatley, choosing instead to praise Turner's performance. On Instagram, Green showcased sportsmanship, acknowledging the nature of competition with the words, "You win some, you lose some, I guess." He continued by commending Turner for stepping up on short notice and achieving success.
Originally, Green was set to face Dan Hooker, but after Hooker withdrew due to an arm injury, Turner seized the opportunity. Accepting the co-headlining bout with only nine days' notice, Turner ended a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4. It's noteworthy that all of Turner's victories in the UFC have been by knockout or submission.
Community Response
The late stoppage has raised serious concerns within the MMA community about the importance of ensuring fighter safety. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping did not hold back in his disapproval. Bisping questioned Hatley's decision-making process and highlighted the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health, calling the incident "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Daniel Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, took to social media to condemn the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier emphasized the perilous situation where a fighter was prone on the ground, receiving blows without timely intervention from the referee.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper echoed these sentiments, describing the incident as "brutal" and noting that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the ordeal. Hooper suggested that the fight should have been stopped after one or two shots once Green was on the ground.
Even Dustin Poirier, the former interim lightweight champion, weighed in, deeming the stoppage "horrible." The MMA community is now looking to see if there will be any repercussions or official statements from the UFC and the relevant governing bodies regarding the incident.
The outcry following the event underscores the delicate balance referees must maintain between allowing fighters to compete fully and protecting them from unnecessary harm. This incident will likely serve as a case study and potentially a catalyst for discussions on how to improve officiating and fighter safety protocols in MMA.
While the sport is no stranger to controversy, particularly concerning stoppages, the unified voice from various respected figures within the MMA world signifies the gravity of the situation. As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen what measures, if any, will be taken to address such issues and prevent similar occurrences in the future.