By The UFC Vegas 89 event took an unexpected turn as Igor Severino was disqualified for a shocking act during his bout against Andre Lima. Severino made headlines for all the wrong reasons as he bit his opponent on the arm during their match, resulting in his disqualification.
The incident occurred in the second round while Lima was defending in the clinch, with Severino inexplicably resorting to biting his opponent’s left arm. The referee promptly intervened and, after reviewing the situation, made the decision to disqualify Severino.
In a rare move, UFC president Dana White took swift action against Severino, reportedly kicking him out of the UFC following the match. White expressed his disappointment, particularly considering that both fighters were up-and-coming and undefeated. He emphasized that there are other ways to express frustration in a fight, but biting is unacceptable and comes with severe consequences.
In an unexpected turn of events, White decided to double the prize money for Lima, awarding him the first-ever ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history. Lima, who understandably reacted with shock and dismay during the incident, later shared images of the bite marks and even got a tattoo around them on his bicep.
Taking to social media, White announced his decision to increase Lima’s bonus from $25,000 to $50,000, lauding his resilience and handling of the situation. Lima expressed his gratitude to White and vowed to continue his career with determination.
In the main event of the night, Rose Namajunas secured a memorable victory in her second fight at flyweight, defeating Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision. With impressive striking statistics and a dominant performance, Namajunas showcased her skills and solidified her position in the flyweight division.
