Mario Yamasaki waits in the cage for UFC 195 fight to start with an inset of Dana White answering questions at 2024 Seasonal Press Conference. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Chris Unger via Getty Images

Dana White let loose on UFC referee after he released rare statement defending decision to let beatdown continue

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Jamie Theodosi | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 7:54 PM ET

UFC boss Dana White has never been afraid to speak his mind and former referee Mario Yamasaki was once on the receiving end of White’s wrath.

One of the reasons why Dana White is so universally loved by the UFC fanbase is because of his outspoken and honest personality.

However, getting on the wrong side of the UFC boss can prove too much to come back from and former referee Mario Yamasaki knows all about that.

Countless times, White has criticised judges for their scoring of fights and even sometimes slammed referees for their decision to stop a fight early or late.

Photo by Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Mario Yamasaki released a statement defending his decision to let beatdown continue

In 2018 following her unsuccessful women’s bantamweight title challenge against Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko was matched up against Priscila Cachoeira at UFC Belem.

In the very first exchanges, it became clear that there was a huge discrepancy in the two fighters’ skillsets as ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko immediately dominated the fight with her sensational striking and even took the fight down to the ground and rained down hellacious elbows.

The Brazilian was immediately cut open and it became clear she had no route back into the fight. Despite that, Yamasaki failed to step in and call the fight, even when ‘Zombie Girl’ was getting utterly brutalized with continuous elbows to the head.

Again in the second round, Shevchenko took the fight to the ground and had Cachoeira stuck in the crucifix position while she just utterly brutalized her. Yamasaki still did nothing to stop the fight as he just aimlessly strolled around the cage.

After eating over 200 strikes while on the ground, Cachoeira turned to her back and was finally submitted by Shevchenko, putting her out of her misery.

Following the event, Yamasaki controversially released a statement, claiming that he allowed Cachoeira ‘to be a warrior’.

Dana White let loose on Yamasaki following controversial statement

Although Yamasaki thought he was doing the right thing by defending his decision, this ultimately led to his downfall as White utterly let loose on him and declared that he would never referee in the UFC again.

“I think it’s disgusting, I think he’s disgusting and I never wanna see him reffing ever again,” White told Fox Sports.

“She didn’t tap and that’s the thing… She did fight like a warrior for that idiot to say that he gave her the opportunity to be a warrior, no you moron, you’re in there to protect her from herself. He makes me sick. That guy has no business reffing fights and I promise you, you’re not gonna see him again,” White continued.

White stuck to his word and Yamasaki was axed by the UFC shortly after.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: