This is one of those videos that would fit perfectly on any sports bloopers or America’s Nuttiest Videos programs. The story goes like this…a referee is officiating an MMA fight in Knoxville, TN where one of the fighters loses by TKO and the ref stops it. A cornerman who must have been unhappy with the loss comes into the cage to confront the referee about the stoppage. In apparent self-defense the ref KO’s the cornerman! I know we’re a little crazy here in the South (ask Junie Browning) but damn.

The best part is not only do we have the video of the KO but we have a statement from the referee on what happened where he also talks about another incident that just happened two months later between himself and that same cornerman again.

Here’s the statement from the referee as posted on the Underground:

This video of me and my altercation with Korey Hayes, the coach of the Knoxville-based MMA team Cage Killers, was highlighted on this youtube video about 2 months ago.

As the referee in this bout, there was alot of controversy as to whether I was justified in striking Mr Hayes during this incident. I wrote an extensive paragraph, stating that it was unlike me to strike another person outside of a combat sports setting. However, I felt as though I was in a dangerous situation and that he would have struck me if I hadn’t acted.

The event would evolve into the centerpiece of the issues concerning the legalization of the sport in Tn. When I attended the meeting that saw the state athletic commission finally pass sanctioning of amateur MMA, the incident was brought up. They wanted to make sure that if sanctioning were put in place, this sort of thing would not happend again. Everyone involved expressed openly that the incident cast a dark shadow on the sport, and felt we should move forward for the benefit of the sport.

Last night I attended an event at the National Guard Armory of New Tazwell, promoted Warrior Fighting Challenge. Only moments before my arrival, I was informed that ISKA had pulled their sanctioning, due to lack of insurance and security. The promoter insured me that the event would be run by “Sport Jiu-Jitsu” rules. Having attended the meetings of the State Athletic Commission, I was fully aware that all MMA event HAD TO BE SANCTIONED by one of three sanctioning bodies (ISKA, ISCF, and WKA). Realizing my fighters and cornermen could face later repercussions, I pulled them from the event.

I arrived at the venue a few minutes later to collect my fighters. I passed the ticket counter and turned to walk down the hallway with Teammate Erick Jordan and my girlfrend. At this point, I noticed Korey Hayes out of the corner of my eye. Considering the nature of our last meeting and in the best interest of the event, I made it a point to avoid all contact. I did not make eye contact and I did not make any move toward Mr. Hayes whatsoever.

However, as I turned my back and made my way toward the lockerooms, Mr Hayes struck me with a looping right punch from behind that shoved me into my girlfriend. He continued forward in an attempt to tackle me to the ground screaming something in the nature of, “you will never hit me again”. I grabbed a single leg and drove myself forward until the onlookers separated us. Mr Hayes then exited the bulding in haste. When the police arrived a few minutes later, I filed a report. While his best haymaker punch from behind was unable to knock me unconcious, I was left with severe lacerations to my lips that required stitches to close up.

While I am irate at the situation, it is primarily due to the involvent of my girlfriend. I have trained with some of hardest hitters in the sport and getting punched is something I can readily deal with. And although I don’t relish having my mouth split open, I will heal as I always have. When our altercation unfolded in Knoxville 2 months ago, it was handled face to face and without the involvement of any innocent persons. My girlfriend is not a fighter and had no place in that disagreement.

I would have never placed his wife, girlfriend, or children in harms way over a personal issue between us. This is truly disgracefull behavior, and was intended to gain revenge for the initial event that was unfortunate and I feel that I had little control over to begin with. While I realize that I made a mistake in turning my back to someone that may have harbored resentment toward me, I truthfully felt that his words as a professional superceded his own egotistical agendas.

Korey Hayes demontrated a vengefull nature that showed in both the meltdowns that followed his fighter’s loss in Knoxville and his unprovoked attack last night. After he had left, I was told by one of his loyal students, that it was “even now, because you hit korey and now he hit you back”. It is disappointing to hear that this instructor’s teachings of ethics consist of, “an eye for an eye”, “set him up to take your best shot when he turns his back”, and “do whatever it takes to get revenge no matter how many innocent people it involves and even if it defaces the integrity of the sport”, display his respect for MMA. I assume he was humiliated by the Youtube fiasco and felt he could even the score by attempting to knock me out and embarass me in return. He was unable to do either. I stand rock steady and continue to move myself, my team, and Tennessee MMA forward.

There are currently charges being prepared on several civil and criminal levels. This act proves premeditation, and crossed county lines in the process. Furthermore, the state athletic commission has been informed and will deal with Mr Hayes in thier own fashion.
I’m sure everyone has their own opinions, and after seeing the video, some will feel the attack on me was deserved. However, remember that this is still a sport of honor. I was never asked to discuss the previous incident or told what do to to make things right. Furthermore, I wasn’t even asked to man up and fight (It was made clear that Mr Hayes carries some sort of heart malfunction, and because of this he was unable to participate in MMA contests). Instead it was handled in a vigilante manner that, once again, disgraces the people involved.

I am normally not one to post on forums, but I took alot of blame for the heat that some people believe I placed on the sport during the Youtube incident. I took my lumps and showed my remorse, reading rants of how righteous of a man and instructor Korey Hayes was. This proves to be his answer to all the critics. That being said, I love MMA and all my many close friends involved, all over the nation. Furthermore, this goes to prove that my actions of self defense during the youtube altercation were justified. I’m embarrassed that, while there are many up and coming talented fighters in Tennessee, we are in danger to forever be known as a band of redneck amateurs that can’t get along well enough to get their act together. I sincerily hope this does not turn out to be the case. Casey Oxendine- Team Oxendine MMA

(Editor’s note: Of course this is only one side of the issue. If Korey Hayes would like to express his side of the situation we would share it.)

4 thoughts on “Referee KO’s cornerman in Tennessee”
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