Jalin Turner, wow, he KO’d Bobby Green! I mean, you should’ve seen it. #UFCAustin. It was a sight to behold.
But you know what? The whole thing was kind of tainted. Turner’s Round 1 knockout win over Green at UFC Austin was overshadowed by a late stoppage. It could’ve been called off way earlier.
Now, here’s the kicker. Turner, also known as “The Tarantula,” stepped up on just 10 days’ notice. Dan Hooker, the original fighter, had to pull out due to injury. Despite a worrying weight cut, Turner, only 28, managed to dismantle Green just 2:49 into the first round.
It was a right hand that did it. A devastating one. Turner floored “King” Green and then landed a series of punches on the canvas. More than enough to call the fight, right? But no, referee Kerry Hatley let Green turn his back and take a barrage of unanswered shots before stepping in.
Dana White, UFC CEO, was not happy. He called the stoppage one of the worst ever at the post-fight press conference. But here’s a twist. Hatley, a veteran official, admitted his mistake.
White didn’t mince words. “One of the worst I’ve ever seen…We’ve had some refs say some dumb stuff in the past like, ‘Oh I allowed her to be a warrior tonight.’ And goofy stuff like that,” he said. “He knows that he made a mistake tonight. He does not feel good about it. It’s unfortunate…Definitely bad stoppage.”