UFC will take action to prevent future Mario Yamasaki-type situations, exec says

The UFC will work with Brazil’s athletic commission to avoid another controversial stoppage like the one seen in UFC Fight Night 125’s co-headliner.

At the event’s post-fight press conference, UFC executive David Shaw told reporters the promotion is “a little upset” with referee Mario Yamasaki’s performance in the fight between Valentina Shevchenko (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Priscila Cachoeira (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), indicating a shift will be made in choice of referees for future events.

“We’ll be working with the commission to make sure a situation like that doesn’t happen again,” Shaw said after the FS1-televised event at Mangueirinho Gymnasium in Belem, Para, Brazil. “First and foremost, Priscila’s health is the No. 1 priority. We’ve got a team with her at the hospital, and we’ll be taking very good care of her to make sure she recovers quickly.”

Shaw’s reaction came less than one hour after UFC President Dana White issued an apology of sorts to Cachoeira, who tried in vain to survive a beating from Shevchenko before submitting in the second round. Of Yamasaki, White wrote on social media, “I am hoping after this scary, incompetent showing he hopefully will never set foot in that octagon again.”

Saturday’s fight card was overseen by the Brazilian Athletic Commission of MMA (CABMMA), which has worked closely with Yamasaki as it has taken a lead role in regulating UFC events held in Brazil. It’s unclear the commission’s position on the controversial stoppage.

Shevchenko picked up her first win as a UFC women’s flyweight after a failed bid for the bantamweight title against champ Amanda Nunes. She picked up a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus for her work and said she’d wait for inaugural champ Nicco Montano (4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) to heal from a foot injury suffered in a title-winning fight.

Shaw sought to recognize Shevchenko’s work while also expressing disappointment at the circumstances that surrounded her victory. He also said it’s premature to pencil in the Kyrgyzstan native for the title shot, saying White and other UFC executives will make that decision shortly.

“She obviously put on a masterful performance tonight,” Shaw said.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 125, check out the UFC Events section of the site.