Priscila Cachoeira faced a devastating defeat over the weekend. The UFC newcomer made her octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 125, facing off against former UFC bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko in the night’s co-main event.
Shevchenko earned a submission victory in the second round after pummeling Cachoeira for a UFC record setting striking score of 217-1. The fight has since garnered some controversy, as many fight fans are claiming the bout was a mismatch between an experienced top level competitor and a UFC newcomer.
UFC President Dana White would go on to offer some heated criticism over referee Mario Yamasaki’s decision to not stop the fight sooner.
Taking to Instagram, White stated:
“Priscilla Cachoeira, you showed so much heart and toughness in that fight. I’m honored to have you fight in the UFC. Unfortunately the ref is there to protect you and Mario DID NOT do that. This isn’t his first disgusting performance in the octagon.
“Another unfortunate thing is that i can’t do anything about I️t only the Brazilian commission can and i am hoping after this scary, incompetent showing he hopefully will never set foot in that Octagon again. Strikes landed was 230-3.”
With all of that in mind, Cachoeira’s coach Gilliard Parana has come forward to reveal why he never threw in the towel during the match up.
“I think he had his reasons not to stop it,” Parana told MMA Junkie. “He knows what he’s doing and ‘Pedrita’ was active. He could have stopped it, too. Both decisions were plausible, the way I see it.”
“We never thought about quitting and we never will,” Parana continued. “It’s not part of our way of doing things. The ref is there to stop it, and if he doesn’t, we won’t be the ones doing it.”
Cachoeira suffered a torn meniscus and ACL during the match up.
