Igor Severino before his fight on 'Dana White's Contender Series'. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
At just 20 years old, Igor Severino made headlines around the world and was one of the main topics in the world of MMA after debuting in the biggest organization in the world in the UFC Las Vegas 89, held last Saturday (23). The reason, however, was not a great performance or fight, but rather the fact that it was disqualified and fired after biting the arm of rival and compatriot André 'Mascote' Lima.
After about a week away from any media and social networks, the athlete broke his silence in an extensive interview with the North American website 'MMA Junkie', in which he expressed regret for what happened and opened up about the consequences of the act for his career and personal life.
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“It’s been a really crazy few days. One day I was fighting in the biggest organization in the world, making my dream come true. In the next few moments I am banned from the organization. I come from a humble background. I have been working since I was very young. I left home as a teenager to train and get here. It's something that's not part of me. It's not who I am as a person. It's not who I am as a fighter. I feel very sorry. (…) My dream became a nightmare from one moment to the next. I regretted it a lot. I apologize to André Lima, Dana White, the Nevada Athletic Commission, Sean Shelby, who spoke to me after the fight, Mick Maynard, everyone in the organization and the fans,” said the fighter.
As for what led him to make the mistake of biting his opponent's arm in the UFC Las Vegas 89, Igor Severino stated that after being hit by a hard elbow from André Mascote, he 'went on autopilot' and no longer remembers anything.
André Lima displays a bite suffered on his UFC Las Vegas 89. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
“I remember everything that was happening until I was hit with a very hard blow. I watched the fight afterwards and I think it was the elbow. From then on, I was on autopilot. I don't remember anything. (…) You can talk to everyone I've ever faced or who promoted my fights. I always fought with respect and left everything in the cage. I never did anything outside the boundaries of sport. I can’t understand what happened”, he assured.
The bite inflicted on André Lima generated punishment not only from the UFC, with his dismissal, but also from the Nevada Athletic Commission, which has payment withheld until today which would be destined for Igor Severino.
"Did i do something wrong. It is right that I be punished. I got fired and I think it's one of the worst things that could happen. The commission withheld my payment, so I'm not even sure I'll get paid. I don't know what they'll decide, but that money isn't even for me. It's for my family that depends on me. Fighting is how I put food on the table and pay my rent, buy medicine, manage to take care of my sick family members, how I can help them by buying food too. It’s just what I know how to do”, said the fighter.
In addition to dealing with the consequences brought by the UFC and the Nevada Athletic Commission, Igor Severino reveals that several family members, including his mother, have received insults and even death threats after the incident.
“They are going after the people I love. They are disrespecting them, even threatening to kill them. My mother has nothing to do with this. My family has nothing to do with this. They're acting like I killed someone or I'm a criminal. What I did was wrong, but it was far from a crime. They are treating me like the worst person in the world. My mother called me nervous, crying and saying that people were threatening her and saying horrible things to and about her. I said everything will be okay, but how will everything be okay? I don't know if everything will be okay. I don’t even know if I’m going to have a career after this,” she lamented.
When everything and everyone seemed to be against it, support for Igor Severino came from those he least expected. Opponent and victim of the bite from Pará, André 'Mascote Lima' came to the defense of his rival and appealed against his dismissal from the UFC.
“He (André Lima) had everything he needed to point the finger and ride the wave of the moment, but he reached out to me. I can hardly express how much admiration and respect I have for him. (…) What he is doing for me, even if it doesn’t change anything in my situation with the UFC and the sport, has already meant more than anything else,” he declared.
Finally, Igor Severino used the space to appeal to the UFC and the fans for a chance to redeem himself and resume his career.
“The UFC had every right to send me away, but I wanted a chance to redeem myself. I don't want to be defined as the 20-year-old kid who bit a guy in the octagon and was banned from the sport. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not that kind of person. It's not my character. I know things are bad for me right now and I just want people to see that this doesn't define who I am as a person or as a fighter. Please, just let me have my career back. Please give me the chance to come back and redeem myself. Let me show you who I really am”, he concluded.
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