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Longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) referee Steve Mazzagatti may have been replaced on UFC President Dana White’s shit list, thanks to a controversial stoppage in the UFC Fight Night 112 main event last night (Sun., June 25, 2017) on FOX Sports 1.
Watch the replay here.
That’s because Mario Yamasaki, charged with keeping order in the Kevin Lee vs. Michael Chiesa headliner, called a stop to the lightweight affair prematurely (details), after “Maverick” appeared dead to rights by way of rear-naked choke.
White vents on Instagram:
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.
Yamasaki is no stranger to controversy.
“Mario Yamasaki should just crawl in a hole and never step inside of any type of professional mixed martial arts event,” Chiesa said after the fight. “He should never officiate, ever again. He should spend more time going over the rules than making his stupid little heart symbols to the cameras.”
Not everyone believes Yamasaki was premature.
Watch his arm go limp. No controversy, there was still 45 seconds left, he wasn't getting out https://t.co/ErKPGrpzwy
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) June 26, 2017
Never leave it in the hands of the judges ... referee?
For much more on last night’s UFC Fight Night 112 event in “The Sooner State” click here.