Introduction:
Mario Yamasaki is a widely controversial name within the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). He started his career as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, but his love for the sport and desire to give back to the community led him to become a referee. With over two decades of experience under his belt, Yamasaki has been involved in several controversies throughout his career. In this post, we will take a deep dive into Mario Yamasaki’s career, from his background to some of the most significant controversies he has been a part of.
Background:
Mario Yamasaki was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1964. He pursued Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at a young age and eventually ranked as a black belt under famous trainer Amauri Bitetti. Yamasaki started his career as a fighter and later transitioned into refereeing. Yamasaki has been a referee in some of the most significant MMA organizations globally, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Strikeforce, Bellator, and many more.
Yamasaki’s Refereeing Style:
Yamasaki has a unique style when it comes to refereeing. He is known for taking an approach that focuses on letting fighters continue with the fight as long as they are not in danger. This approach has led him to be involved in several controversies over the years, as many people have accused him of allowing fights to continue for too long, leading to severe injuries. Despite this, Yamasaki remains committed in his approach and has no regrets about his decisions when refereeing.
Controversies:
Yamasaki has been involved in several controversies throughout his career. One of the most significant controversies happened in 2017 when he refereed a fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Priscila Cachoeira. Critics claimed that Yamasaki allowed Cachoeira to take a brutal beating before stopping the fight. Another controversy happened in 2018 when he was involved in a fight between Amanda Cooper and Mackenzie Dern. During the fight, Yamasaki allowed Dern to continue fighting despite an obvious injury, leading to a lot of criticism.
The Fallout:
Yamasaki has faced severe backlash from the MMA community for his controversial refereeing style. UFC President Dana White has been one of his most vocal critics and stated that Yamasaki will never referee in the UFC again. There have also been calls for Yamasaki to be suspended or banned from all future MMA events. Despite the controversies, Yamasaki has continued to referee in lower-level MMA organizations.
Yamasaki’s Views on Controversies:
While Yamasaki has faced severe backlash throughout his career, he remains committed to his approach. He has stated that he takes responsibility for his mistakes and tries to learn from them. Yamasaki admits that he has made mistakes in his career but also believes that the criticism is often overblown. Yamasaki has also stated that he tries to remain neutral and never focuses on the fame or attention that comes with being a referee.
FAQs:
Q1: What is Mario Yamasaki’s background?
A1: Mario Yamasaki started his career as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and later transitioned into refereeing.
Q2: What is Yamasaki’s refereeing style?
A2: Mario Yamasaki focuses on letting fighters continue with the fight as long as they are not in danger.
Q3: Has Mario Yamasaki been involved in controversies?
A3: Yes, Yamasaki has been involved in several controversies throughout his career.
Q4: What happened in the Valentina Shevchenko vs Priscila Cachoeira fight?
A4: Critics claimed that Yamasaki allowed Cachoeira to take a brutal beating before stopping the fight.
Q5: Who has been Yamasaki’s most vocal critic?
A5: UFC President Dana White has been Yamasaki’s most vocal critic.
Q6: Will Yamasaki referee in the UFC again?
A6: No, Dana White has stated that Yamasaki will never referee in the UFC again.
Q7: What are Yamasaki’s views on controversies?
A7: Yamasaki takes responsibility for his mistakes but also believes that the criticism is often overblown.
Conclusion:
Mario Yamasaki has had a long and controversial career as an MMA referee. While his style has led him to be involved in several controversies, Yamasaki remains committed to his approach. Despite the criticisms, Yamasaki admits that he has made mistakes but also believes that the criticism is often overblown. Whatever your views on his refereeing style, there is no denying that Yamasaki has made a significant impact on the MMA world.