UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he criticized referee Kerry Hatley for what he described as one of the worst delayed stoppages he has ever seen. The controversy unfolded during Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas, where Jalin Turner emerged victorious over Bobby Green.
Despite Hatley's extensive experience officiating in the UFC, he hesitated to halt the fight after Turner landed a decisive blow that left Green unconscious in the first round. Turner continued to deliver 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. He recalled past instances where referees have made questionable comments justifying their decisions, but noted that this situation was different because Hatley recognized his error and regretted it, which White suggested was unfortunate yet not dismissive of the severity of the mistake.
Turner, while acknowledging the delay in stopping the bout, defended his actions by emphasizing that a fighter's job is to continue until the referee steps in to stop the contest.
Green's Gracious Response
The fight, which lasted two minutes and 49 seconds, ended with Green walking out of the Octagon on his own, without assistance. Despite the controversy surrounding the stoppage, Green did not direct any criticism towards Hatley. Instead, he took to Instagram to commend Turner for his performance.
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green reflected. He went on to express his philosophy on handling both victory and defeat with grace. "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."
Originally, Green was expected to face Dan Hooker; however, an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw. Seizing the opportunity, Turner accepted the co-headlining bout on nine days' notice. His victory marked an end to a two-fight losing streak and improved his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's wins in the promotion have been finishes, either by knockout or submission.
Community Outcry Over Fighter Safety
The late stoppage has reignited concerns within the MMA community about fighter safety. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping voiced strong disapproval, questioning what Hatley was waiting for as he watched Green take unnecessary damage from a powerful striker like Turner.
"He was face down, 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 said, highlighting the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health. "That was utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier echoed these sentiments on social media, labeling the incident "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier underscored the seriousness of the situation, with the fighter prone on the ground, receiving punches without timely intervention from the referee.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also shared his thoughts, describing the scene as "brutal" and pointing out that Green was unable to defend himself intelligently during the sequence. "Ref should've stopped it after one or two shots on the ground max," he opined.
Similarly, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier deemed it a "horrible stoppage," aligning with the widespread criticism from the MMA fraternity. As the community awaits responses or actions from the UFC and relevant regulatory authorities, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the need to prioritize fighter safety above all else in the sport.
The UFC has historically taken measures to ensure the well-being of its athletes, and this latest incident will likely lead to further scrutiny of refereeing standards and protocols. The response from the organization and regulatory bodies will be closely monitored by fighters, fans, and commentators alike, as they seek assurances that such delays in stoppage are addressed promptly to prevent future occurrences.