Former UFC official Mario Yamasaki says that he finally might be done with MMA, suggesting that “I don’t know if I’ll still referee again.”
Yamasaki was one of the most-used referees by the UFC for 20 years before UFC president Dana White banned him from officiating events his company promoted following a controversial late stoppage in the Valentina Shevchenko vs. Priscila Cachoeira fight in February 2018. Since then, Yamasaki has not refereed at any UFC events. Last year, however, he announced that he was going to make a comeback and was in the process of re-training to become an MMA official. However, it looks like the ref has changed his mind.
“MMA has always been a hobby for me, a nice hobby and, of course, if you give me one more chance, I’ll be back next year, no doubt. But it was 20 years in the UFC. This is not for everyone. I did what I had to do. There were trips, they presented me with several opportunities. It was excellent.”
Mario Yamasaki is not UFC President Dana White’s favorite person – and that’s putting it mildly.
During an appearance on “UFC Tonight,” White said of the veteran referee, “I think he’s disgusting, and I never want to see him reffing ever again.”
Those remarks followed up White’s already searing criticism of Yamasaki on Instagram following Valentina Shevchenko’s second-round submission win over Priscila Cachoeira last weekend at UFC Fight Night 125. Yamasaki has come under fire for his reluctance to stop the bout sooner, even as Shevchenko (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) battered and bloodied Cahcoeira (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with 230 strikes to just three for the promotional newcomer.
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I didn’t realize that he got Mazzagattied.I wonder what he has to re-train for after being a referee for 20 years.
Mazzagatti and Mario were amongst the worst. Yves Levine (sp) wasn’t bad but he definitely had a few mishaps in his day.
The best ref in the early to mid 2000’s was the guy who got busted for the grow OP. Matt something?
No Josh Rosenthal.
Remember when he let Derrick Lewis damn near killed Travis Browne. He was the ref.
huh
Brutal lol
Edit-this play by play guy stinks. Also, forgot how good of a ring announcer Joe Martinez is.
I always thought Kim Winslow was the worst.
Yes, she was bad. Triple D tits looking like Herman Munster.
I’ve never seen that Valentina fight. Was it that bad?
I always prefer a ref who trends on the late stoppage side vs early
Now we need Herb to get on board with the retirement idea.
I remember her calling a fight because one fighter attempted a submission; the other fighter never yelled out, tapped, etc., But she called it because (I’m paraphrasing) ‘it looked like it hurt’ 