Igor Severino Adopts Hannibal Lecter Persona Post-UFC Suspension Fight

Igor Severino, known for his suspension after biting an opponent in a UFC fight, is returning to the ring to face Jonas Magard at Oktagon 65 in Prague, using the notoriety from the incident as publicity while aiming for a fresh start and a potential title shot.


Igor Severino is making a comeback. You might not recall his name right off the bat, but here’s a memory jogger: he’s the guy who got suspended for biting Andre Lima during a UFC fight last March.

This Sunday, Severino steps back into the cage to face Jonas Magard at Oktagon 65 in Prague, Czech Republic. Magard, a former bantamweight champion, could make this a No. 1 contender bout. However, for Severino, there’s more at stake than just victory and title shots.

The bite incident left Severino “heartbroken,” costing him a UFC deal and nine months out of action. Some even called for a lifetime ban while his social media was bombarded with hate and death threats. This fight offers a chance to move forward—though not entirely.

At just 21, Severino’s DQ loss marked his first professional defeat. Yet, he believes all publicity is good publicity. Oktagon seems to agree, dubbing him a “disgraced UFC star.” This weekend, he’ll enter the cage sporting a Hannibal Lecter mask.

“The bite went viral worldwide,” Severino told MMA Fighting. “Even non-MMA news outlets picked it up. Now I’m using that to my advantage—I’ve got the mask, having some fun—but it’s just a joke; it won’t happen again [laughs].”

MMA has seen its fair share of “Hannibals” like UFC veteran Claudio Silva and “Cannibals” such as flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja. Severino seeks a unique nickname linked to the bite; the Hannibal Lecter shtick is temporary. His opponent Magard goes by “Shark,” adding another layer of pun to the fight.

“We’ve also got a ‘shark’ here,” Severino quipped, referencing teammate Joanderson Brito, known as “Tubarão” (shark) in Brazil. “I’m used to training with sharks, so I feel right at home. The real shark is here [laughs].”

Suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for nine months, Severino could’ve fought sooner in Europe if he wanted to. But with hopes of returning to North America—maybe even rejoining the UFC—it made sense to wait it out.

Before his infamous UFC appearance, Severino knocked out Jhonata Silva at Dana White’s Contender Series. Despite the suspension and online vitriol, he never stopped training or considered retirement.

“I wasn’t really affected by any of that,” Severino said. “People thought I’d quit after being cut by the UFC, but I never did. I’ve learned so much from this experience—it showed me who truly supports me.”

Severino is “very confident” that winning on Sunday will earn him a shot at the vacant belt left by Felipe Lima’s departure to the UFC. Magard lost his title to Lima in July 2023 and has been finished in five of his six defeats.

“He doesn’t go in there to put on a show,” Severino remarked about Magard. “He talks a lot and promotes his fights; I’m not into being friendly with opponents, so I’ll be comfortable with that dynamic. I’m not impressed by his game either—I won’t underestimate him but believe I have more weapons. He’s quite predictable.”

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