A plethora of fighters are scaling in for the UFC 302 official weigh-ins at the UFC Host Hotel in Jersey City, NJ. A lot of names stand out in the crowd. Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Paulo Costa, and Sean Strickland remain top bills of the card. Kevin Holland, Jailton Almeida, Grant Dawson, Joselyne Edwards, and others also hedge close. But how can one forget a viral name like Andre Lima?
The Brazilian fighter opens up the early prelims at UFC 302. One of the strangest oncoming in UFC history was Andre Lima. But he wants bygones to stay that way; he has UFC 302 to focus on. Igor Severino bit the fighter during the 2nd round of their UFC on ESPN 53 bout in March. In a historic first, he received a $50,000 “Bite of the Night” bonus for the ordeal. However, he doesn’t want that to define him.
UFC life is great, man. The tattoo and the bite changed my life…The fight in the UFC was good up until that point [of the foul], and the bite made it go viral. But I’m not in the UFC because of a bite or a tattoo. I’m here because I have heavy hands, I’m a good striker, and I will show my potential.
Andre Lima to MMAFighting on SBN and other media scrum at UFC 302 pre-fight check-ins (H/T: mmafighting.com)
The bite went immensely viral and started a chain event. While Severino had his purse withheld by the Nevada Athletic Commission, ‘Mascote’ got the better of it. He banked on it and posted stories about the tattoo he got after leaving UFC APEX. He even became a viral sensation back home in Guarulhos.
The fighter out of Team Lucas Mineiro MMA now wants to shine with his efforts. Lima (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is a Dana White‘s Contender Series (DWCS) alum who thinks he has enough to outlast any tier of competition. While his debut morphed into more of a “bite debut,” he wants to set his path right. He fights Mitch Raposo in his second outing.
Igor Severino pleads with NAC to free up fight purse for living expenses
UFC on ESPN 53 was the rarest case of chomp-and-stomp in promotional history. During their fight, Brazilian Igor Severino bit the left tricep of UFC 302’s Andre Lima. Severino, 21, is currently suspended by the NAC following his disqualification on March 23. Soon after, he apologized, saying it was a heat-of-the-moment situation and not some malicious intent.
Igor Severino hopes to recover from his UFC on ESPN 53 mishap with Andre Lima (Source: Instagram)However, the fighter from Chute Boxe has yet to get a resolution from the regulatory body. He profusely apologized several times; in a sitdown with MMA Junkie Spanish, he said he hoped that this one costly mistake does not define him life-long. Now, he opens up with an update that he is also financially struggling in the aftermath.
I would like to know if it would be possible to release part of my purse since that fight I haven’t been able to pay all my bills, and I’ve been living with a friend and training partner, …I’m afraid that I might even be kicked out of my gym, as I’m not able to meet any dues, and I’m even having trouble eating. I would like to know if it would be possible to release part of my purse…
Igor Severino via a Portuguese translator, to MMA Junkie
In an interview with Brazilian MMA-journalist Laerte Viana, Andre “Mascote” Lima stated that he doesn’t agree with the UFC to cut Igor Severino after the biting incident on Saturday. He says that he hopes Severino get’s another chance and he is willing to do a rematch. pic.twitter.com/yPcmhzsCPB
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) March 27, 2024
The NAC thanked Severino for his self-admission and repentance as a due courtesy. NAC Commissioner Anthony Marnell had advocated the possibility of lifelong stern measures to set a definitive precedent.
For all purport, he did not want to showcase that a fighter could go free after some form of timely suspension; this was bodily harm, after all. The discussion was tabled for May 31. However, NAC executive director Jeff Mullen said the Andre Lima – Severino agenda wouldn’t float until the next NAC meeting on June 25.
