Mario Yamasaki took a bit of a break from officiating MMA fights in 2018, but he wants to get back into it this year.
Yamasaki, one of the most notable MMA referees, hasn’t stepped into the UFC’s Octagon since Feb. 3, 2018, when he refereed the UFC Belem co-main event between now-flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and Priscila Cachoeira. Yamasaki was highly criticized after the fight for not stopping the fight during Shevchenko’s periods of ground-and-pound. Shevchenko eventually won with a submission in the second round.
Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA), as well as the UFC matchmakers, also came under fire after the bout, which proved to be a mismatch.