Former UFC flyweight Igor Severino has been handed a 9-month suspension as a result of him biting Andre Lima at UFC Vegas 89 back in March.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) made the announcement on Tuesday. They also fined him $2,000 plus fees.
Originally he was only supposed to be suspended 6-months, but NSAC chairman Anthony Marnell said the punishment wasn’t enough. The fear was that other fighters would see the suspension as a slap on the wrist and possibly lead to more infractions in bouts.
The suspension is retroactive to March 23 meaning he’ll be eligible to fight by December 23. Severino was cut from the UFC following the incident and no word as to if any other promotions are interested in Severino.
“It’s not who I am as a person. That’s not who I am as a fighter,” he told MMA Junkie after the event back in March.
“My dream became a nightmare overnight. I’m very regretful to my opponent. I apologize to (Lima), to Dana, to the Nevada Athletic State Commission, to Sean Shelby, who spoke to me after the fight. Sorry to everyone who was watching that on TV. They didn’t deserve to see that.”
Lima, to his credit, got the bite tattooed on the spot where Severino bit him following the event.
