‘Criminal’ act in UFC co-main event shocks the sport

It takes a lot to shock fans of mixed martial arts, but it happened in one of the most brutal incidents you will ever see in the Octagon.

After an absolute eternity, Hatley finally brought the carnage to an end. Photo: Twitter

In the routinely brutal world of mixed martial arts, it usually takes a lot to shock onlookers.

But that’s exactly what happened in Sunday’s UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas.

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In the co-main event between lightweights Jalin Turner and Bobby Green, the former got on top after landing a punch behind Green’s ear, wobbling the 37-year-old veteran.

Green fell to the canvas and Turner, 28, jumped on his back and unleashed a fury of heavy blows into Green’s head.

Up until that point, normal proceedings were taking place.

But an eternity after the time most experienced observers would have expected referee Kerry Hatley to jump in and end the fight, Green still lay almost motionless as Turner landed blow after blow.

What more did the ref need to see? Photo: Twitter

“What else do you need? What else do you need?” commentator Brendan Fitzgerald screams.

“What is going on?” UFC great and fellow commentator Michael Bisping adds.

While Green may not have been completely unconscious, he was barely able to offer any form of defence as at least 15 extra punches landed until Green was indeed knocked out cold.

That’s when Hatley finally stopped the carnage.

UFC boss Dana White slammed Hatley - a veteran of well over 200 fights - for the stoppage and the fallout from fans and experts alike was swift.

“One of the absolute worst stoppages in mma history like wtf was going on,” UFC legend and commentator Daniel Cormier wrote on X.

After an absolute eternity, Hatley finally brought the carnage to an end. Photo: Twitter

“On your stomach taking punches and it still isn’t enough. Crazy!”

Well known journalist Ariel Helwani took it a step further.

“He was done at 2:23. It got stopped at 2:11. Criminal,” he wrote on X.

UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuff was another to react strongly.

“I’ve never been actually mad at a ref before,” he wrote on X. “Someone could die of s**t like that.”

The reaction from fans was equally as damning.

“Fire this man (Hatley) asap. I hate to see that for my guy Bobby Green,” wrote one UFC fan.

He was done at 2:23.

It got stopped at 2:11.

Criminal.
pic.twitter.com/UyXp0S31u2

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 3, 2023

“This is why I can never blame a ref for stepping in a tad bit too early. I’d much rather have the ref stop the fight right as he lands that first punch then possibly putting a person’s life at risk. Should never ref again. Complete negligence,” wrote another.

“This is just severe punishment. Especially to the back of the head area where it’s especially dangerous. This late stoppage can mean long term damage for the fighter,” wrote a third.

Cormier interviewed Turner in the Octagon after the fight and even he was surprised the fight extended as long as it did.

“I ain’t going to talk down the ref, but yes I am,” he said. “Come on, like how much more? Bobby was a little wobbled.

“But I gotta go until they pull me off, that’s part of my job.”