Jalin Turner picked up a violent first-round finish tonight at UFC Austin (Sat., Dec. 2, 2023) when he knocked out fellow Californian Bobby Green from inside Moody Center in Austin, Texas (watch highlights). Turner received a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his vicious knockout.
While the knockout was brutal, it was marred by controversy as Turner hit Green with 19 unanswered punches because referee Kerry Hatley seemed to want to see a dead body and stopped the fight way too late.
UFC CEO Dana white reacted to the stoppage during the UFC Austin post-fight press conference (watch here).
“Yeah, it was one of the worst I’ve ever seen,” White told the media.
White believes Hatley is remorseful for his incredible bonehead and dangerous mistake, unlike other referees (Mario Yamasaki).
“So the difference is, you know, we’ve had some refs say some dumb sh-t in the past. Like, ‘I allowed her to be a warrior tonight’ and goofy sh-t like that, he knows that he made a mistake tonight, and he does not feel good about it. So yeah, it’s unfortunate,” White concluded.
Compared to other referee blunders in the past, Hatley got off relatively scott-free by White. He could have been blacklisted like Yamasaki, Steve Mazagatti, and Vyacheslav Kiselev. He got absolutely mauled by the internet, though.
Check out some reactions below:
DAMNNNNNN Turner. Kerry Hatley is a sick fuck
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 3, 2023
One of the WORST stoppages I have EVER seen in #MMA.
Referee Kerry Hatley’s negligence put Bobby Green in dire danger at #UFCAustin. pic.twitter.com/bfmjVvHxTe
— Talen Guzman (@TalenGuzman) December 3, 2023
Kerry Hatley should be disciplined for that awful stoppage. He just let Bobby Green take like 20 punches after he was already knocked out.
Absolutely terrible. #UFCAustin
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) December 3, 2023
Bobby Green literally getting murdered.
.
Kerry Hatley: #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/pied23TokK— Jeff Ruh (@jeffkangaruh) December 3, 2023
Kerry Hatley waiting for the post-mortem. Worst stoppage of the year from a truly terrible referee. Rotten. #UFCAustin
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) December 3, 2023
I told you guys about Kerry Hatley, who just might’ve gotten Green traumatically hurt and taken years off his life, much less whatever is left of his career.
I talk about this all the time and expected these kind of stoppages in Texas, but that’s fucking disgusting. #UFCAustin
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) December 3, 2023
HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, late stoppage by Kerry Hatley. That was disgusting. #UFCAustin
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) December 3, 2023
There goes Kerry Hatley’s UFC reffing career
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) December 3, 2023
KERRY HATLEY JUST LET BOBBY GREEN DIE IN THERE #UFCAustin
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 3, 2023
Disgusting stoppage. Fucking horrible are you kidding me? Kerry Hatley should be given a lifetime ban, start holding these refs accountable
— Omni-Man’s MMA Burner (@zachharknessmma) December 3, 2023
Turner snapped his two-fight losing skid while snapping Green’s two-fight win streak.
For complete UFC Austin results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.