Igor Severino is again. You might not keep in mind his identify per se, however one line will certainly refresh your reminiscence: sure, he’s the man suspended for biting his opponent Andre Lima throughout a UFC combat in March.
Severino returns to the cage Sunday to faces Jonas Magard at Oktagon 65 in Prague, Czech Republic. Magard is a former bantamweight champion within the group and that might find yourself being a No. 1 contender bout, however Severino has extra on the road than simply victories and title photographs.
Severino was “heartbroken” after a foolish mistake that value him a cope with the UFC and 9 months away from motion. Some needed him to be banned altogether, and his social media was “flooded with hateful feedback” and dying threats. This combat represents an opportunity to maneuver on from that, however not solely.
The 21-year-old expertise, whose DQ loss was his first defeat as an expert MMA fighter, believes that each one publicity is nice publicity. Oktagon additionally embraced that, referred to him as a “disgraced UFC star” when saying the combat. This weekend, Severino will stroll to the cage carrying a Hannibal Lecter masks.
“[The bite] turned viral worldwide,” Severino informed MMA Preventing. “Information channels that had nothing to do with MMA have been speaking about it, so now I’m utilizing that to my benefit. I’ve the masks, I’m having some enjoyable — nevertheless it’s only a joke, that received’t occur once more [laughs].”
The world of MMA has seen loads of “Hannibals” already, together with UFC welterweight veteran Claudio Silva. And “Cannibals”, too, like UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. Severino needs a novel nickname associated to the chew, so the Hannibal Lecter gimmick is simply momentary. His opponent Magard is named “Shark”, one other apparent pun for this combat.
“We even have a ‘shark’ right here,” mentioned Severino, referring to UFC fighter and teammate Joanderson Brito, often known as “Tubarão” (shark) in Brazil. “I’m used to coaching with sharks, so it’s all good. I’m at residence. The true shark is right here [laughs].”
Severino was handed a nine-month suspension by the Nevada Athletic Fee, however that wouldn’t cease him from preventing sooner in Europe if he selected to. Nonetheless, since he plans on possibly returning to the North American circuit sooner or later — probably rejoining the UFC someday —, it made sense to sit down and wait.
The Chute Boxe Joao Emilio bantamweight knocked out Jhonata Silva at Dana White’s Contender Sequence earlier than his unforgettable UFC look, and mentioned he by no means stopped coaching through the suspension nor contemplated retirement regardless of the net assaults.
“I wasn’t that affected by any of that, actually,” Severino mentioned. “Folks apprehensive that I’d wish to cease [fighting] or one thing like that after being minimize by the UFC, however I by no means thought of it. I’ve discovered so much from all that. It helped me see who have been by my facet, and who was not.”
Severino mentioned he’s “very assured” {that a} win Sunday earns him a shot on the belt which was left vacant after Felipe Lima left Oktagon to hitch the UFC. Magard, who misplaced the throne to Lima in July of 2023, went the space in 9 of his 23 MMA bouts and was completed in 5 of six defeats.
“He doesn’t go in there to placed on a present or any of that,” Severino mentioned of his opponent. “He talks so much, he likes to advertise his fights. I don’t like carry pleasant with my opponents so I’ll be very comfy with all that. And I’m not impressed by his sport both. I received’t underestimate him, after all, however I imagine I’ve extra weapons than him. He’s very predictable.”
