It’s been a while since referee Mario Yamasaki stepped foot inside the Octagon. Twelve months, to be exact. But now he’s starting to work his way back.
The most experienced Brazilian when it comes to refereeing MMA fights in the big leagues, Yamasaki was last seen under the UFC banner on Feb. 3, 2018, when he oversaw the co-main event of UFC Belem. In that infamous match, Valentina Shevchenko took on promotional newcomer Priscila Cachoeira in Brazil and dominated her for nine minutes before finally tapping “Pedrita” with a rear-naked choke.
The booking proved to be a mismatch, with UFC matchmakers and the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) being criticized afterward for the pairing.