Dana White Blasts Referee Mario Yamasaki For Not Stopping Shevchenko vs. Cachoeira
UFC president Dana White unleashed on referee Mario Yamasaki on Saturday night following the co-main event at UFC Fight Night in Belem, Brazil.
The matchup featured Valentina Shevchenko in her flyweight debut as she took on Octagon newcomer Priscila Cachoeira, who entered the bout with an undefeated record albeit against less than stellar competition.
Shevchenko was a massive favorite going into the fight — 10-to-1 according to some odds makers — and the bout played out exactly as expected.
Shevchenko battered Cachoeira on the feet but then absolutely decimated her on the ground while bloodying the Brazilian rookie throughout the first and second round.
Shevchenko ultimately out landed Cachoeira 230 to 3 in total strikes although she finally put the fight away by submission in the second round. White absolutely unloaded on Yamasaki for not stopping the fight earlier and allowing Cachoeira to eat all those shots on the ground.
There seemed like numerous times over the course of the fight where Cachoeira was just being bludgeoned by Shevchenko with no sign that she was improving her position or doing anything but just eating punches.
Still, Yamasaki let the fight continue until Shevchenko put her away.
White added that he has no control over who places Yamasaki in the fights when the UFC goes to Brazil but it’s clear he doesn’t want him anywhere near the Octagon the next time the promotion travels there later this year.