Mario Yamasaki facts for kids

Mario Yamasaki (born April 22, 1964) is a well-known Brazilian referee in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). He is famous for refereeing many fights, especially in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mario Yamasaki also founded and leads the International Yamasaki Academy, where he teaches martial arts. He has been a referee for over 490 fights in major organizations like the UFC, Strikeforce, and Pride Fighting Championships.

Mario Yamasaki's Early Life and Training

Mario Yamasaki was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1964. He was the older of two sons. His family has a long history of teaching martial arts in Brazil, going back two generations. His father, Shigeru Yamasaki, is partly Japanese.

Mario and his younger brother, Fernando, started training in Judo when they were children. They learned from their father, who was an 8th-degree black belt in Judo. Their uncle, Shigueto Yamasaki, also helped teach them.

In 1986, when Mario was 22, he began learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He trained under Marcelo Behring, a skilled black belt. Marcelo started teaching jiu-jitsu at the same gym where Mario taught Judo.

Mario later moved to the United States. He often traveled back to Brazil to continue his jiu-jitsu training. After some time, he continued his training with his brother Fernando. In 2002, Mario earned his 4th-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Mario Yamasaki's Career as an MMA Referee

Mario Yamasaki first became involved with the UFC when he and his brother helped organize the UFC's first event in Brazil. This event was called UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil and took place in São Paulo.

After the event, Mario asked the UFC referee, John McCarthy, if there were any referee jobs open. He was told they were looking for someone, and that's how Mario's career as an MMA referee began.

During his time as a referee, Mario Yamasaki oversaw many important fights. Sometimes, his decisions in the ring were questioned by fans and experts. For example, in one UFC fight, he stopped a match later than some people thought he should have. He later explained that he wanted to give the fighter a chance to keep going.

Because of these discussions, Mario Yamasaki has not refereed as many UFC events recently. However, he has continued to referee fights for other smaller organizations. In 2021, he shared that he planned to take more refereeing jobs and also attend a course to become a judge for fights.

Mario Yamasaki's Personal Life

Mario Yamasaki divides his time between São Paulo, Brazil, and Bethesda, Maryland, in the United States. He lives with his wife and children. In the U.S., he co-owns and runs several Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools. He also owns a construction company.

His family is deeply rooted in martial arts. His father, Shigueru Yamasaki, and his uncle, Shigueto Yamasaki, are both highly ranked judo experts in Brazil. His brother, Fernando Yamasaki, holds black belts in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo. Even his cousin, Shigueto Yamasaki, Jr., competed for Brazil in judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

See also

In Spanish: Mario Yamasaki para niños