Igor Severino’s UFC career was a brief one.
The Brazilian flyweight, who was undefeated up until last weekend, was disqualified less than two rounds into his UFC career after he was found to have bitten his opponent Andre Lima on the inside of bicep while the two were locked in a grappling exchange during their prelim bout in Saturday night’s event at the UFC Apex facility outside Las Vegas.
Referee Chris Tognoni called a halt to the action after Lima complained of the bite, reviewing footage and promptly disqualifying Severino — who has since been released from the promotion.
Afterwards, UFC CEO Dana White awarded a $25,000 bonus to Lima but later doubled it to $50,000 after apparently being impressed by Lima’s decision to memorialise the incident with a tattoo of the bitemarks on his bicep.
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“Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters,” White told Kevin Iole after the incident. “If you get frustrated and want out of the fight, there are plenty of ways to do it, but the worst thing you can do is bite your opponent.
“Now you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your life. Not to mention, he’s going to have real problems with the NSAC [Nevada State Athletic Commission].”
Lima, now $50,000 richer after his run-in with Severino, also said afterwards that he hopes that Severino’s punishment isn’t too harsh for what he suggested could be put down to a moment of madness in the cage.
“I don’t think he should be cut or fired from the UFC, because this is a young athlete, a good athlete, someone who is undefeated,” Lima said.
“The emotions may have gotten the best out of him, the adrenaline may have gotten him. It’s a whole new world inside the octagon. It’s a different thing, and I think he’s an athlete that — he should stay in the UFC. I’m sure that with the great athlete that he is, he will represent Brazil just as well as I am. I think it’s just about giving him a little talking to and nothing over that.”
