UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the controversial officiating that occurred during the recent UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout in question featured lightweights Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, with referee Kerry Hatley at the helm—a veteran official with a wealth of experience in the sport.
The incident that sparked outrage unfolded after Turner landed a decisive blow that rendered Green unconscious in the opening round. Despite Green's evident incapacitation, Hatley failed to halt the fight promptly, allowing Turner to deliver additional strikes for a prolonged 12 seconds before intervening.
Dana White's Rebuke
White was forthright in his post-event interview, labeling the oversight as "one of the worst I've ever seen." He drew a distinction between this lapse and past refereeing errors, noting that while some officials have made questionable comments defending their actions, Hatley was fully aware of his mistake and regretted it.
Turner, on his part, stood by his conduct within the Octagon, emphasizing the fighter's duty to continue combat until the referee steps in. This perspective aligns with the unwritten rules of mixed martial arts, where fighters are trained to proceed until an official stoppage is declared.
The fight officially ended at two minutes and 49 seconds of the first round. Remarkably, Green was able to exit the Octagon without assistance, showing resilience despite the ordeal. In a display of sportsmanship, Green refrained from criticizing Hatley, instead opting to praise Turner via Instagram for seizing the opportunity and excelling in the co-headlining bout.
Bobby Green's Grace in Defeat
"You win some, you lose some, I guess," Green stated, expressing his philosophy of maintaining composure both in victory and defeat. He extended congratulations to Turner for stepping up on short notice and achieving success.
Green was initially set to face Dan Hooker; however, an arm injury forced Hooker to withdraw, prompting Turner to fill in on just nine days' notice. Turner's gamble paid off, snapping a two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4. Impressively, all of Turner's wins in the promotion have come by way of knockout or submission.
Community Outcry Over Officiating
The late stoppage has ignited a firestorm within the MMA community, with many figures voicing their concerns over fighter safety—a paramount aspect of the sport. During the ESPN live broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping condemned the incident, questioning Hatley's judgment and stressing the potential impact on fighters' lives and health. Bisping described the situation as "utterly disgusting and disgraceful."
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier took to social media to denounce the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier underscored the severity of the situation, with a fighter prone and defenseless against a skilled and powerful striker.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper echoed these sentiments, characterizing the sequence as "brutal" and pointing out that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently. Hooper suggested that the fight should have been stopped after one or two ground strikes at most.
Adding his voice to the chorus, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier also labeled the stoppage "horrible." The MMA community now looks to the UFC and regulatory bodies for any forthcoming actions or statements in response to the incident.
This event has once again brought to the forefront the critical issue of referee intervention timing in combat sports. As the conversation continues, the priority remains clear: ensuring the safety and well-being of the athletes who step into the Octagon to entertain and compete at the highest levels of mixed martial arts.