Dana White has been vocal for years about his frustration with mixed martial arts officiating and judging. The UFC president isn't afraid to speak his mind and had to do so again this last weekend after UFC on Versus 6 where the problems were in the Octagon. The Yamasaki brothers, Mario and Fernando had bizarre nights.
Fightlinker did a nice job of pointing out the issues:
Mario screws up Walel Watson vs Joseph Sandoval: The opening fight of the night was stopped just 1 minute and 17 seconds in as Watson pushed forward aggressively with strikes and knocked Sandoval on his ass. But Sandoval was already scrambling to grab Watson's legs when Yamasaki stepped in and stopped the fight. Premature, Mario. Premature.
Fernando screws up TJ Grant vs Shane Roller: This fight of the night candidate was stopped early when Grant transitioned from a choke to armbar. Grant was defending by clasping his hands together and was actively fighting the submission when Fernando stepped in and stopped things. Prematurely!
Mario screws up Rafaello Oliveira's brain: [...] In round 2 Edwards hurt Oliveira and from there embarked on an epic journey of whoop-ass across the cage, hitting Tractor with punches from all angles, kicks to the face, and basically the kitchen sink. In the end Rafaello lay dazed and confused with his arm pinned behind his back as Edwards unleashed 22 unanswered blows before Mario stepped in. Late stoppage, ref!
Mario screws up Anthony Johnson vs Charlie Brenneman: [...] Brenneman seemed quite confused as to how to escape the position, and when he finally did it was only to be met with a kick straight to the face that dropped him on his butt. Mario Yamasaki stepped in to stop the fight before Brenneman even hit the ground, which is too bad because Charlie caught his fall with his elbows and was never out. It may have just sped up the inevitable, but again: PREMATURE STOPPAGE, MARIO!
The real issue lies with the "verbal submission" in the Grant-Roller fght, and the prefight instructions that a verbal expression of pain may be considered a tap. White dislikes that rule:
"It's [expletive], I think it's [expletive]. You're in a fight! You don't think you're going to verbally express pain sometimes when a guy's punching you in the face and kicking you in the head? [...] Give the guy a chance to tap or verbally say 'Hey, I want to stop.' It was the wrong call. It's so [expletive] inconsistent. It's ridiculous," White said after the UFC of Versus 6 postfight press conference (2:55 mark).
He's not looking for guys to get destroyed in the cage, but they should get the opportunity to free themselves from a submission hold.
"I'm always on the side of the fight being stopped a little early. But there are fights that are stopped a little, like the guy didn't tap, the guy's gotta [expletive] tap out."
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