UFC veterans Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier recently weighed in on UFC Vegas 89. More precisely, on Andre Lima receiving a whooping $50,000 “Bite of the Night” bonus. Not akin to the usual Fight of the Night stipulation; this was perhaps one of the most bizarre bonus payouts in promotional history. So much so, that the ‘American Gangster’ had to come to terms with it yet again.
After Ryan Clark voiced his departure on the “All Good Things Must Come to an End: 2/13” segment, Cormier didn’t suffer long. His ‘DC&RC’ Show podcast for ESPN Podcenter is now the ‘Good Guy-Bad Guy‘ MMA Weekly show. While he and Sonnen already went over the biting sequence in disbelief, more was to come.
On his Official YouTube channel, in the ‘Beyond The Fight‘ podcast, Chael Sonnen went over it at length yet again. Igor Severino bit Andre Lima during the 2nd round of their UFC on ESPN 53 bout this past weekend. Severino had his purse withheld by the Nevada Athletic Commission and was effectively cut from the UFC flyweight roster.
Chael Sonnen’s reaction to the same was summed up in 6 words:
What did he bite him for? Chael Sonnen said
Lima, on the other hand, got a $50,000 “Bite of the Night” bonus, in a historic first. However, Lima can’t help but feel bad for the Dana White‘s Contender Series (DWCS) alum. Who he feels has had a similar journey as a rookie. Chael Sonnen lauded this sportsmanship in spirit during the segment, labeling it a beautiful sentiment.
UFC Vegas 89 star Andre Lima weighs in on Igor Severino’s UFC release
One particular bout in last weekend’s fight card resulted in quite a topsy-turvy result. Flyweight Igor Severino was immediately fired after unsportsmanlike conduct. In the heat of battle, he bit on opponent Andre Lima’s musculature on his left arm. Thus effectively ending his career even before it began.
On the other hand, Andre Lima himself received an ironic “I got fu*king bit” incentive. After the subsequent DQ Win, Lima got a tattoo around the bite imprint on his inner left muscle. Dana White , impressed with his attitude, awarded him a sum of $50,000 ‘bite bonus’.
Lima has advanced to a streaking 8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC stat with his win. Similarly, up-and-coming prospect Severino was 8-1 MMA and 0-1 UFC in his pro run. Hence, the fighter sympathizes with Igor Severino’s struggle, in light of his sudden release. Check what Lima told TMZ Sports through an interpreter, on the issue, and manager Lucas Lutkus receiving news of the bonus:
According to the fighter, it was manager Lutkus who suggested that he get the tattoo as a remembrance. Lima urged that he wants his legacy to be the skills he showcases as a fighter. As such he aspires to be a world champion. But, he also urged that bite was a good occurrence for him, as it would motivate him to go for a win with better fallout, not a DQ.
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