Rose Namajunas did her best to prove she belongs in the flyweight division Saturday night, beating Amanda Ribas by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
But it was what happened in one of the night’s first matches that made the biggest headlines at the UFC Apex arena.
Midway through the second night of the match, a battle between unbeaten, up-and-coming flyweights Andre Lima and Igor Severino, referee Chris Tognoni called timeout to review whether Severino bit Lima.
Replays showed that Severino did indeed bite Lima on the arm, resulting in Severino’s disqualification.
What’s more, combat sports website keviniole.com reported that UFC CEO Dana White kicked Severino out of UFC after the match.
“Those were two up-and-coming, undefeated fighters,” White said. “If you get frustrated and want out of the fight, there are plenty of ways to do it, but the worst thing you can do is bite your opponent. Now, you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your life. Not to mention, he’s going to have real problems with the (Nevada Athletic Commission).”
Lima’s manager said later that night that White told him his fighter would receive the first “I Got (expletive) Bit Bonus.”
As for the main event, Namajunas was making her second fight at the flyweight division, having lost her debut at that level to Manon Fiorot by unanimous decision in September.
Outstriking the Brazilian Ribas 60 percent to 40 percent and landing 10 more significant strikes, Namajunas won the five-round bout 49-46, 48-47, 49-46 — taking the final two rounds on all three cards — to improve to 12-6-0.
In other noteworthy bouts:
** Heavyweight: Karl Williams def. Justin Tafa by unanimous decision in the co-main event.
** Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan def. AJ Dobson by KO (strikes), 4:33 of Round 1.
** Bantamweight: Payton Talbott def. Cameron Saaiman by TKO (strikes), 0:21 of Round 2.
–Field Level Media