Michael Chiesa Appeals Loss to Kevin Lee at UFC Fight Night 112

Michael Chiesa has filed an appeal of his loss to Kevin Lee at UFC Fight Night 112. MMAjunkie has confirmed with Chiesa’s manager that he has filed a formal appeal of the fight, which took place last weekend.

Chiesa argued that referee Mario Yamasaki made several failures in overseeing the bout that ultimately led to the loss. The appeal read, “While I understand that mixed martial arts referees have a very difficult job, licensed combatants like me enter into combative contests with the understanding that referees will follow highest standard of conduct. Mario Yamasaki, the referee in this contest, has a long history of failing to meet the standards officials are held to. For example, at UFC 142, Mr. Yamasaki improperly disqualified Erick Silva in a contest against Carlo Prater. Recently, at UFC Fight Night 105, Mr. Yamasaki publically (sic) said he had ‘no excuses’ for his late stoppage in the main event bout between Travis Browne and Derrick Lewis.

“In my fight with Kevin Lee, Mr. Yamasaki made multiple failures, oversights, and errors in officiating that ultimately led to this unfortunate circumstance. To be clear – I did not tap, I did not verbally submit, I was not knocked unconscious, and at no point did I go unconscious. At all times, I used my years of experience and training to intelligently defend myself. The first such failure to properly implement the rules occurred when Mr. Yamasaki did not warn, penalize, or otherwise follow professional guidelines when Kevin Lee landed numerous illegal downward elbows while I was backmounted at 3:46 of the first round [see in a replay of the fight that his elbow goes directly north to south (foul pursuant to Oklahoma Administrative Code 92:10-11-7:a9)]. These illegal strikes cut my head open, and I required 4 stitches after the fight was over.”

OSAC administrator Joe Miller has confirmed that he’s received the request, saying, “I will review video of fight then present video to full commission if warranted. If commission sees merit in the appeal, a hearing will be conducted.”