Igor Severino has been suspended for nine months, fined $2,000 plus prosecution fees, and removed from the UFC roster after biting his opponent Andre Lima in March, with the suspension retroactive to March 23 and allowing him to compete again after December 23.
Igor Severino has been suspended for nine months. This came after he was disqualified for biting his opponent, Andre Lima, back in March. That incident led to his release from the UFC.
In addition to the suspension, Severino faces a $2,000 fine. This amount will be deducted from his fight purse that was withheld post-event. He also owes $471.12 in prosecution fees.
Once these fees are deducted, the remaining portion of his fight purse will be returned to him.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission decided on this punishment during their monthly meeting on Tuesday. Interestingly, this decision follows a previous adjudication agreement that was denied last month. Initially, Severino was expected to serve only a six-month suspension.
Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Anthony Marnell argued that a six-month suspension wasn’t severe enough. He believed it set a dangerous precedent—implying future fighters might think biting an opponent wouldn’t result in harsh penalties.
Ultimately, the commission extended the suspension to nine months instead. This period is retroactive to March 23—the date of the bout—meaning Severino could return to competition after Dec. 23.
Severino received a temporary suspension immediately following the incident and hasn’t competed since that night in March. As a consequence of his actions, he was promptly removed from the UFC roster.
Now, he’ll have to wait until at least December before booking another fight. Severino aims to resurrect his career following that ugly moment in his UFC debut.
It’s quite a setback for him but perhaps also a lesson learned? Only time will tell if he can bounce back stronger and wiser from this ordeal.