UFC fighter Igor Severino has been disqualified and released from his contract for biting opponent Andre Lima during a match, marking the end of his octagon career.
Igor Severino’s UFC career? Done. Over. Why? He bit Andre Lima. Yeah, you heard it right. He’s the first UFC fighter ever to be disqualified for biting his opponent.
Dana White, the UFC CEO, broke the news. He confirmed Severino’s contract termination to Kevin Iole, a seasoned MMA reporter. The UFC Vegas 89 broadcast team later echoed this, referencing White’s statement to Iole.
White’s message to Iole was clear. He said, “Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters.” He wasn’t wrong. But then, Severino bit Lima. White’s take? “If you get frustrated and want out of the fight, there are plenty of ways to do it, but the worst thing u can do is bite your opponent.”
The consequences? Severino got cut. He lost the biggest opportunity of his life. And White didn’t stop there. He added, “Not to mention, he’s going to have real problems with the [Nevada State Athletic Commission].”
Lima, the victim, wasn’t silent. He complained to referee Chris Tognoni about the bite. Officials stopped the action in the octagon and reviewed the footage. The evidence? Clear as day. When Lima raised his arm, a set of bite marks was visible. This led Tognino to disqualify Severino from the fight at 2:52 of Round 2.
The reaction from other fighters? A mix of shock and humor. Lima’s manager later spilled the beans that White awarded Lima a $50,000 “I got f****** bit” bonus. Talk about a silver lining!
Severino, a Brazilian, had earned his UFC contract with a stoppage win this past September on Dana White’s Contender Series. His face-off with fellow Contender Series vet Lima was their octagon debut. And what a debut it was! Memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.