Igor Severino, a promising prospect making his UFC debut on Saturday night, was disqualified and then released by the promotion for biting his opponent.
Severino, 20, was battling Andre Lima on UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas when, inexplicably, the young Brazilian bit his opponent in the bicep while the two were fighting for position near the cage.
Andre Lima of Brazil shows a bite mark on his arm after his flyweight fight against Igor Severino of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 23, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Severino was disqualified for biting Lima in the second round. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The action-packed fight was immediately stopped by referee Chris Tognoni, who separated the fighters as a medical team was ushered into the Octagon to examine Lima’s arm.
Tognoni declared Lima the winner after disqualifying Severino. Lima’s record advanced to 8-0 as Severino fell to 8-1. Of much more significant concern for Severino, however, is the fact that his career in the UFC is over.
UFC President Dana White texted Yahoo’s Kevin Iole that he released Severino from production after the fight.
“Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters,” White wrote to Iole. “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. Now, you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your life. Not to mention, he’s going to have real problems with the [Nevada State Athletic Commission].”
Igor Severino of Brazil reacts during a flyweight fight against Andre Lima of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 23, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Not that the UFC is above having some fun with the incident. A pic of White and Lima announcing that he was rewarded the first ever “I Got F*cking Bit Bonus.”
Lima used some of the fight funds to get a tattoo of the bonus around the bite mark.