Andre Lima picks up the win over Igor
Severino due to a DQ from Severino, who bit Lima’s arm 😳
#UFCVegas89 pic.twitter.com/NQTJuSh9G3— ESPN MMA (@espnmma)
March 23, 2024
A clash of highly-touted flyweight debutants met an unfortunate end
due a blatant foul on the preliminary card at UFC
on ESPN 53.
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Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series graduates Igor da
Silva and Andre Lima
met in the second fight of the card, setting the standard high
early on with fast-paced action. Both fighters went toe-to-toe from
the very onset, splitting the judges’ scorecards for the first
round. The second round continued to show all the promises of a
barnburner before Lima complained of da Silva biting him in a
clinch position.
Referee Chris Tognoni paused the contest and called in the cageside
doctor to inspect. A deep bite mark could be seen on Lima’s left
bicep, leading to da Silva getting disqualified at the 2:52 mark of
Round 2. This marked the first disqualification due to a bite in
the history of the promotion.
Igor Severino vs. Andre Lima at
#UFCVegas89 ends in a rare disqualification for BITING. Wild.
pic.twitter.com/LXL7X9ZR96— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn)
March 23, 2024
Shortly thereafter, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed to KevinIole.com that da Silva would be
immediately cut from the promotion for his actions in the
Octagon.
“Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters. 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
said. “Now, you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your
life. Not to mention, he’s going to have real problems with the
NSAC.”
As far as potential sanctions, Nevada State Athletic Commission
executive director Jeff Mullen simply said, “We’ll see.” Meanwhile,
Lima would go on to receive a
$50,000 “Bite of the Night” bonus for his efforts.