Igor Severino found himself in the center of a storm after his UFC Vegas 89 bout with Andre Lima took a bizarre turn, leaving his purse in limbo.
The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) withheld Severino's earnings following his disqualification for biting Lima in the second round of their preliminary-card clash at UFC APEX.
According to insiders familiar with the situation, Severino's purse was put on hold by the NAC pending further action. The exact amount of Severino's earnings remains undisclosed, as the NAC does not publicly reveal fighter salaries.
Not something you see every night in the Octagon 👀 #UFCVegas89 pic.twitter.com/v46iqBf74J
— UFC (@ufc) March 23, 2024
With Severino's bite marking a first in MMA history, speculation abounds regarding the severity of his punishment. Drawing comparisons to Mike Tyson's infamous "bite-fight" with Evander Holyfield, where Tyson was fined $3 million and had his boxing license revoked, the gravity of Severino's transgression cannot be understated.
UFC CEO Dana White wasted no time in addressing the situation, indicating Severino would face repercussions from the NAC and announcing his release from the UFC after just one fight. Despite Severino's promising start on Dana White's Contender Series, his biting incident has brought his UFC career to an abrupt halt.
Updated my story on the bite with a quote from @danawhite and Severino will be cut because of the bite. #UFCVegas89
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) March 24, 2024
Amidst the fallout, Andre Lima, the recipient of Severino's bite, displayed remarkable sportsmanship. Despite the visible marks left on his arm, Lima advocated for Severino to be given another chance by the UFC. In a surprising twist, Lima commemorated the incident with a tattoo, earning praise from White, who announced a $25,000 bonus for the tattoo on top of the $25,000 for the bite.