D. White (photo) saw no problem with the interruption of the fight between Velasquez and Pezão, at UFC 160. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
Antonio Pezão declared after the defeat to Cain Velazquez No. UFC 160 who suffered “illegal coups” and that the “interruption was premature”. The Brazilian even asked the referees for punishment, considering that “when the athlete does something wrong, he is punished” and the same should happen to a referee who makes a mistake.
A great opponent of refereeing failures in MMA, UFC president Dana White even agreed with the Brazilian, but only on the issue of punishing the men who command the actions in the Octagon. However, in the case of Mário Yamasaki, who mediated the fight between Pezão and Velasquez, Dana thinks it does not apply. The Brazilian referee stopped the fight at 1min21s of the first round, when the American shot the ground and pound eleven punches to the head of the Brazilian, who did not react to his rival's offensive.
“It was a good interruption,” Dana said. “I don’t think it was a bad interruption. You know me, if I had thought it was a bad interruption, I would have been mad. He suffered a knockdown, felt it and was hammered.” Even though he thought it was worth waiting a little longer, White doesn't think Yamasaki made a mistake: “(The fight) could it have gone a little further? Of course, but the referee was there and had to make the decision. I have no problem with the interruption.”
Winning the fight, Velasquez joined forces with his boss. For the heavyweight champion, who defended his belt for the first time in his career, Pezão had no reaction. “I think it was a good interruption,” Velasquez told the American channel FUEL TV. “He (Pezão) wasn’t moving, he wasn’t trying to get up or turn his back, so I think it was a good interruption,” added the Mexican descendant.
The next appointment Cain Velazquez will be the tiebreaker for the clash against the former champion Junior Gypsy. The Brazilian took the American's belt at UFC On FOX 1, in November 2011, but Velasquez got revenge in the main fight of UFC 155, in December 2012. The third meeting does not yet have a date, but Dana said it should take place soon before the end of 2013.
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