UFC President Dana White did not mince words when he addressed the controversy surrounding the referee's delayed stoppage during the recent UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas. The bout in question featured lightweights Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, with a contentious ending that has since sparked widespread debate within the MMA community.
The incident occurred after Turner landed a decisive blow that rendered Green unconscious in the first round. Despite this, referee Kerry Hatley, a seasoned official within the UFC, failed to immediately halt the fight. Turner continued to strike his defenseless opponent for an alarming 12 seconds before Hatley intervened—a delay that White condemned as "one of the worst I've ever seen" during a post-event interview.
White's frustration was palpable as he recounted previous instances where referees have been criticized for their in-ring decisions, noting that while some officials have made questionable comments in the past, Hatley was aware of his mistake and regretted the oversight. This acknowledgment, however, does little to mitigate the potential risks faced by fighters due to such lapses in judgment.
Turner, who emerged victorious after two minutes and 49 seconds, defended his actions by stating that it is a fighter's duty to continue until the referee steps in. His professionalism shone through despite the controversy, as he secured a much-needed win, snapping a two-fight losing streak and improving his UFC record to 7-4. Notably, all of Turner's victories in the promotion have come via knockout or submission.
Bobby Green, who exited the Octagon without assistance following the stoppage, displayed commendable sportsmanship. He refrained from criticizing Hatley, instead choosing to praise Turner on social media for stepping up on short notice and performing admirably. Green had originally been scheduled to face Dan Hooker, but plans changed when Hooker withdrew due to injury. Turner seized the opportunity, accepting the co-headlining bout with just nine days' notice.
Community Outcry
The late stoppage has ignited concerns over fighter safety, prompting figures across MMA to voice their disapproval. During the live ESPN broadcast, former champion Michael Bisping expressed strong disapproval of the incident, questioning Hatley's rationale and underscoring the potential risks to fighters' lives and long-term health. Bisping described the scene as "utterly disgusting and disgraceful," highlighting the severity of the situation as Green lay prone, absorbing strikes from a powerful striker without timely intervention from the referee.
Former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier echoed these sentiments on social media, labeling the stoppage as "one of the absolute worst stoppages in MMA history." Cormier drew attention to the dire circumstances of a fighter being down and defenseless while taking unnecessary punishment.
UFC lightweight Chase Hooper also chimed in, characterizing the incident as "brutal" and pointing out that the fighter was unable to defend himself intelligently throughout the sequence. Hooper suggested that the fight should have been stopped after one or two shots on the ground at most.
Dustin Poirier, the former interim lightweight champion, agreed with his peers, deeming the stoppage "horrible." With such a chorus of criticism from notable figures within the sport, the MMA community is now awaiting responses or potential actions from the UFC and regulatory bodies concerning the incident.
Looking Ahead
This event has once again brought to the forefront the critical role referees play in ensuring the safety of fighters. The immediate priority of a referee is to protect athletes from unnecessary harm, a responsibility that carries significant weight given the inherent dangers of combat sports. As discussions continue, the importance of prompt and appropriate stoppages cannot be overstated, and this incident will likely serve as a learning experience for officials moving forward.
The dialogue following the Turner-Green fight may lead to further scrutiny of refereeing standards and practices within the UFC. Ensuring that referees are adequately trained to make split-second decisions in high-pressure situations is essential to maintaining the integrity of the sport and the well-being of its competitors. As the UFC continues to evolve, the hope is that incidents like this become less frequent, with fighter safety remaining paramount in every aspect of the sport.