There was a biting incident in the fight UFC on Saturday, which resulted in one athlete being disqualified, beaten, and permanently removed from the organization.
The incident took place at the UFC Apex during an event Heavy attended on March 23, which was broadcast on ESPN+.
Igor Severino and Andre Lima were involved in the second of 13 fights on the entire card, but their flyweight fight was stopped early due to Severino’s foul.
Severino had started the fight well, landing 24 out of 48 strikes and successfully performing four takedowns out of six attempts.
However, things took a turn for the worse in the second round when Severino bit Lima so forcefully that he left two distinct rows of teeth marks on his opponent’s biceps.
You can watch the foul here:
The bite led referee Chris Tognoni to remove Severino from the bout.
Severino was dismissed from the UFC
However, this was just the beginning of Severino’s troubles, as UFC president Dana White had a more severe punishment in store for the Brazilian.
Speaking to Kevin Iole According to White's own website, he announced that Severino was being expelled from the organization.
“Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters,” said White.
“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.”
White added: “Now, you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your life.”
White concluded by suggesting that Severino will face severe consequences from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the sport’s regulatory body.
In contrast, Lima received a performance-related bonus.
During the ESPN+ broadcast, UFC commentator Brandon Fitzgerald mentioned, “Dana White also told us he’ll receive the first ever ‘Bite Bonus’.”
“So, he’s going to give him a little extra something; Andre Lima — receiving the first ever ‘Bite Bonus’,” Fitzgerald stated.
‘I Yelped as I Felt Pain,’ Lima said
“We were exchanging really well at that point and then he, well, tried to take me down, but I got up, and as I was getting up, I yelped as felt pain,” Lima told Heavy and other reporters backstage, after the official announcement of his win via disqualification.
“[It] was very sharp pain,” Lima added. “I really thought that the fence had gotten into me. That’s how I thought it happened.”
Lima told us he started yelling, and saying “ow, ow, ow!” before telling the referee that he thought there was something wrong with the fence.
“Especially the way the fight was going — it had potential to be fight of the night,” Lima said.
“Later, I realized he bit me.”
The flyweight fight between Lima and Severino was not the only noteworthy moment from the preliminary section of the show.
Julian Erosa defeated Ricardo Ramos in the first round with a guillotine choke, and Jarno Errens emerged victorious in a three-round battle with Steven Nguyen.
The UFC Fight Night consisted of a 13-bout show with a headline match between women’s flyweight rivals Amanda Ribas and Rose Namajunas.
Other notable fighters on the card included Cameron Saaiman, who faced Payton Talbott at bantamweight, and Billy Quarantillo who fought Youssef Zalal in a featherweight bout.
