Tag: Mario Yamasaki

Mario Yamasaki Reacts To Critics Of Early Michael Chiesa Stoppage

We have finally got to hear Mario Yamasaki’s side regarding the early stoppage in the main event of UFC Fight Night 112. If you recall, Michael Chiesa was submitted by Kevin Lee in June at a UFC event in Oklahoma City after Yamasaki stopped the fight due to a rear naked choke. The problem with […]

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We have finally got to hear Mario Yamasaki’s side regarding the early stoppage in the main event of UFC Fight Night 112. If you recall, Michael Chiesa was submitted by Kevin Lee in June at a UFC event in Oklahoma City after Yamasaki stopped the fight due to a rear naked choke.

The problem with the stoppage was that Chiesa never tapped out of the fight and was up on his feet following the stoppage. This led to fighters, fans, and even UFC President Dana White going off on the long-time referee as they believed that it was an earlier stoppage as it appeared that Chiesa was still in the process of blacking out.

Yamasaki spoke to Combate about the fight, and in his opinion, there’s no doubt Chiesa was out of the fight.

“It would be easier to just let him be, but I’m a fifth degree jiu-jitsu black belt. I’m sure he went to sleep. Everyone said he didn’t tap, but there’s no tapping when you go to sleep. Otherwise, he would’ve moved his arm. I only have to move an athlete when I’m in doubt, and there was no doubt. I saw a guy who stopped defending himself and going limp.”

“He came back very fast. I was in the moment, there’s nothing I can do. That’s where the confusion and the controversy begin. Dana, as a promoter and an excellent business man, is in his right. He promotes well. I don’t have to say anything. It’s his opinion, he thinks Chiesa didn’t go to sleep. Whoever is in there at the time knows. I don’t need to answer anything. The more I talk about this, the more it’ll grow.”

Although he caught a lot of criticism, Yamakasi wants to be very clear that he can take it. However, he is worried about his kids and other children about the heat that has been sent his way.

“I’m used to it. I’ve been doing this for 20 years. What hurt was my kids, nephews, and nieces who are little, asking why they’re talking about me. People calling you things can get to you in the first or second day, but we’re tough. You just have to deal with it, there’s no way around it.”

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Michael Bisping Says Mario Yamasaki Messed up at UFC Fight Night 112

Michael Bisping isn’t hating on referee Mario Yamasaki, but calls it how he sees it. At UFC Fight Night 112, Michael Chiesa was submitted by Kevin Lee in Oklahoma City. Controversy ensued as Yamasaki stopped the fight despite the fact that Chiesa didn’t tap or pass out. Bisping offered his opinion during a recent episode […]

Michael Bisping isn’t hating on referee Mario Yamasaki, but calls it how he sees it. At UFC Fight Night 112, Michael Chiesa was submitted by Kevin Lee in Oklahoma City. Controversy ensued as Yamasaki stopped the fight despite the fact that Chiesa didn’t tap or pass out. Bisping offered his opinion during a recent episode […]

Michael Chiesa Says Mario Yamasaki Shouldn’t Officiate Again

UFC Fight Night 112 wasn’t without controversy. Michael Chiesa and Kevin Lee did battle in the main event of UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City. Lee locked in a rear-naked choke in the opening round. Referee Mario Yamasaki called a stop to the bout despite the fact that Chiesa didn’t tap or pass out. […]

UFC Fight Night 112 wasn’t without controversy. Michael Chiesa and Kevin Lee did battle in the main event of UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City. Lee locked in a rear-naked choke in the opening round. Referee Mario Yamasaki called a stop to the bout despite the fact that Chiesa didn’t tap or pass out. […]

Fallout: Chokes, Referees, and Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson Talking Major Trash

UFC Fight Night 112 saw some major controversy in the main event. The fight between Michael Chiesa and Kevin Lee was anticipated to be a high stakes game between two fighters hoping to enter title contention with a win Sunday night. But instead of everyone speaking on how great the main event was, everyone is talking about Mario Yamasaki’s supposed “flub.”

The post Fallout: Chokes, Referees, and Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson Talking Major Trash appeared first on Cagepotato.

UFC Fight Night 112 saw some major controversy in the main event. The fight between Michael Chiesa and Kevin Lee was anticipated to be a high stakes game between two fighters hoping to enter title contention with a win Sunday night. But instead of everyone speaking on how great the main event was, everyone is talking about Mario Yamasaki’s supposed “flub.”

Watch the fight the first time around, it appeared that Michael Chiesa was still conscious and willing to continue his grudge match again Kevin Lee. Yamasaki intervened and called the fight which seemed to many observers to be an early stoppage. Here’s the thing about being a ref: it’s an absolutely thankless job. No one appreciates what these refs have to go through with each and every fight they have to call. The thing about this fight was that it was apparent in multiple viewings that Michael Chiesa was on his way to blacking out completely.

The choke was locked in tight, there was thirty plus seconds left, Lee was cranking his choke and Chiesa’s arms went limp, eyes fading and rolling back into his head, a clear response from a blood choke rather than a wind choke. With Yamasaki on top of the action he had the best view out of anyone present. Rather than letting Chiesa go out like a “warrior” Yamasaki instead stopped the match. Sure, we want fighters to be given a chance at victory, at accomplishing the goals they’ve been obsessed with for weeks of training. Problem is that their ego can get in the way of their health at times and that’s what the refs are there for. As a result we have an angry fighter, angry fans, and people cursing the ref for his utter stupidity. Funny thing is, while the tough call may not be the most popular, Yamasaki had a job to do, did what he thought was right and shouldn’t be demonized for it.

On a side note, I never knew I wanted a Kevin Lee versus Tony Ferguson fight before last night. Ferguson congratulated Lee like a true class act, but the brash Detroit native took things a different way. In true McGregor form, Lee wasted no time in his additional time on television as he relegated the rest of the lightweight division as chumps and potentially set up a match between himself and Ferguson.

It was entertaining as hell and is just the kind of thing you want to see if you’re the UFC. Two personalities clashing making for a potentially exciting grudge match in the cage. It’ll sell and at the end of the day this sport is a business. Dollars and cents rule the day and Kevin Lee is setting himself up nicely to start making a nice profit.

What are your biggest takeaways from UFC Fight Night 112?

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.

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Dana White Destroys Mario Yamasaki Along With Michael Chiesa

The mixed martial arts world is collectively in a minor upheaval today over Mario Yamasaki’s puzzling, controversial decision to call off the Kevin Lee vs. Michael Chiesa main event at last night’s (Sun., June 25, 2017) UFC Fight Night 112 from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it’s hard to argue they don’t have a legitimate gripe in the […]

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The mixed martial arts world is collectively in a minor upheaval today over Mario Yamasaki’s puzzling, controversial decision to call off the Kevin Lee vs. Michael Chiesa main event at last night’s (Sun., June 25, 2017) UFC Fight Night 112 from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it’s hard to argue they don’t have a legitimate gripe in the very least.

The headlining fight was playing out at a furious pace in the one round it lasted, with No. 11-ranked Lee using seamless grappling transitions and positional advantages to dominate No. 6-ranked Chiesa in his perceived area of strength. The controversy came when Lee locked up a tight rear-naked choke that Chiesa got out of only to see Lee switch his grip and sink in another variant of the often-used maneuver.

It appeared Chiesa was in big trouble with around 30 seconds remaining this time, and may have been only seconds until he did indeed pass out from the hold. But Yamasaki stepped in to call off the bout despite Chiesa never tapping out. He also wasn’t passed out, as “Maverick” immediately got up to his feet coherently to argue the finish. He spoke forcefully out against Yamasaki’s decision in a post-fight interview, and was soon joined by a longtime Yamasaki detractor in UFC President White, who tore into the official on Instagram:

White brutalized Yamasaki not only by calling him “Mario Mazzagatti” in reference to fellow blasted MMA ref Steve Mazzagatti, but also copying Chiesa by saying Yamasaki was more conerned with making his heart symbol for the cameras than actually refereeing the fight:

“Mario Mazzagatti does it again!!! This guy is more concerned with doing this dumb ass heart bullshit then Ref’n the fight!!! Steals a great moment from Lee or let Mike fight it or tap. Nobody gives a shit that u can make a heart with ur hands like a 12 year old girl they want u to pay attention to what’s going on in the fight and do ur job.”

White has come under vast criticism for his perceived bullying of UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and his overall tendency to say one thing before the opposite proves true, but in this instance, he may actually have a point from a source of truth despite the brutal and perhaps even somewhat childish fashion in which he criticized Yamasaki.

The longtime referee has been nothing less than extremely all over the place in his decisions when to stop a fight, as he allows contests like Derrick Lewis vs. Travis Browne to continue when one fighter is clearly knocked out and unable to defend, but then calls off a main event bout when a fighter is in trouble but not out.

And a certain lost aspect of this unfortunate result is that the surging Lee’s best performance will be sullied by controversy. Chiesa could have got out, yes, but it looked like it was more likely that Lee was about to secure his biggest-ever victory over a top 10-ranked lightweight in dominant fashion. Yamasaki should have let it play out how it was going to, regardless of result. Caring about one fighter’s health too much, if that is what happened, makes little sense when you allow another to east an insane amount of unnecessary punishment.

Lee’s win is now clouded, and Chiesa is justifiably calling out for a rematch. Based on White’s hardline stance on well, almost everything, however, Chiesa may just have to aceept White agreeing with him and get back to training camp for his next match.

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Dana White Blasts Mario Yamasaki: ‘Nobody Gives a Sh*t That You Can Make a Heart’

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White is not happy with Mario Yamasaki. Last night (June 25), Yamasaki called a halt to the main event of UFC Fight Night 112. Kevin Lee locked in a rear-naked choke on Michael Chiesa in the first round. Chiesa didn’t tap or pass out, but Yamasaki stopped the fight […]

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White is not happy with Mario Yamasaki. Last night (June 25), Yamasaki called a halt to the main event of UFC Fight Night 112. Kevin Lee locked in a rear-naked choke on Michael Chiesa in the first round. Chiesa didn’t tap or pass out, but Yamasaki stopped the fight […]