(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
During the main card of UFC 142, referee Mario Yamasaki stepped in to end the welterweight bout between Erick Silva and Carlo Prater at 29-seconds of the first round. Despite Silva appearing to have won his second fight in the UFC by KO, Yamasaki had actually stepped in to stop the fight over illegal blows to the back of the head.
The replays showed that for the most part, Silva’s punches were to the side of Prater’s head instead of to the back.
Commentator Joe Rogan put Yamasaki on the spot to ask him why he stopped the fight to which Yamasaki replied that he had to “Decide right there and then (to stop the fight), there’s nothing I can do.”
Certainly it was a mistake by Yamasaki, who was simply looking out for Prater’s safety, but it will be something that he’ll take heavy criticism for some time.
After the event Rogan took to the internet to write a “I love Mario Yamasaki” post on the Underground Forums, praising Yamasaki for his work and offering “no disrespect” for putting him on the spot like that.
Here is what Rogan had to say:
He’s a great guy, and I’m always happy to see him. When I step into the octagon however, I represent the people watching at home that might have obvious questions, and when something is controversial I’m forced to confront it honestly because that’s what I would want to hear from a person in my position if I was a fan watching it at home.
It was obviously a controversial call, and I’m sure some of you agree with it, but I certainly think it’s also possible to argue that it was a bad call. That was my perspective, so I had to express it. I’m not a perfect person, and I fuck up all the time. It’s a part of life.
Great referees have made awful mistakes. Even the consensus nominee for the greatest referee of all time, my personal friend the great Big John McCarthy has made mistakes.
Remember when Bustamante had to tap out Matt Linland twice?
Calling fight as a referee is hard as FUCK. If I was a referee Dana would probably hate me more than he hates Mazagatti. I wouldn’t want that job! That’s a shit load of pressure.
I think Mario Yamasaki is one of the best in the world at refereeing MMA. No doubt about it.
He’s got great insight to the sport, he’s a life long martial artist, and he’s a really smart guy.
What I was acting from, is that I saw an incredible young talent get denied a KO victory for a questionable call. When I entered into the Octagon and was told of the official ruling that Silva was going to be disqualified for illegal blows to the back of the head everyone that I was around who heard the news opened their mouths in shock. Everyone said, “what?”
The people in the truck couldn’t believe it. I had to read it back to them because I thought it was a mistake, and when I leaned over to explain it to Goldie he couldn’t believe it either.
I had to ask Mario about it. I didn’t know how he was going to respond, but I had to ask him.
Erick Silva is a very promising fighter and I felt like I had a responsibility to adress the issue.
No disrespect intended.