UFC fighter Igor Severino made history on Saturday after being disqualified for biting Andre Lima – and leaving teeth marks in his opponent’s bicep.
The two flyweights clashed at UFC Vegas 89 on Saturday night but the fight was cut short after Lima complained to referee Chris Tognoni.
After an even opening round, Severino and Lima became locked in a grapple near the edge of the Octagon. Lima began yelling and signaling to the official.
The two fighters were separated and Lima held up his arm to reveal a gruesome bite mark on his left bicep. After consulting the judges, Tognoni halted the fight.
Afterwards, Lima’s manager claimed that UFC president Dana White had promised to award the Brazilian the first ever ‘I Got F***ing Bit Bonus’.
UFC fighter Igor Severino made history after being disqualified for biting Andre Lima
Lima shows off the gruesome bite mark he suffered during the flyweight fight in Las Vegas
Severino – who was making his UFC debut – tried to deny that he had gnawed his opponent
Severino – who was making his UFC debut in Sin City – tried to deny that he had gnawed his opponent when confronted by the referee.
But the Brazilian’s protests were in vain. It is believed he is the first ever UFC fighter to be disqualified for biting his opponent. In fact, biting was one of the very few restrictions when the UFC was created three decades ago.
‘You bit him,’ Tognoni told Severino, who insisted: ‘No’
‘Yes, you bit him,’ the referee continued before explaining to one of the flyweight’s team: ‘Explain to him, anytime there is upper and lower teeth mark, that’s a bite.’
The defeat is the first of Severino’s professional career in mixed martial arts. The Brazilian had enjoyed a strong start to the fight against his compatriot.
Lima, who was also making his UFC debut, told ESPN afterwards: ‘I was able to hit him really hard, but then he bit me when I was trying to take him down.
‘I was going to continue to damage him, continue to touch him and finish the fight, but as you saw, that’s why I yelled. He bit me.’
Lima shows off the injury to referee Chris Tognoni during the second round of the fight
The officials halted the fight and awarded Lima victory in his first ever fight in the UFC