Imagine stepping into the octagon, giving it your all, and then tapping out in the final seconds—only to realize the fight wasn’t over. That’s exactly what happened to Muin Gafurov at UFC Vegas 113, and it’s a moment he’ll likely replay in his mind for a long time. But here’s where it gets controversial: Did he tap because of a brutal submission, or was it a costly misunderstanding? Let’s dive in.
According to Gafurov’s teammate, former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Gafurov’s last-second tap-out against Jakub Wiklacz wasn’t a concession to the choke—it was a reaction to what he thought was the fight’s end. In a social media clip, Gafurov explained, ‘I heard a bell… I was thinking, ‘Why aren’t you letting go? What’s going on?’ But the bell was still ringing.’ His confusion? He expected Wiklacz to release the guillotine choke as soon as the bell sounded to end Round 3. Instead, he tapped in frustration. However—and this is the part most people miss—replays show Gafurov tapping a full second before the bell could clearly be heard. Ouch.
Dvalishvili tried to shed light on the situation, saying, ‘From what I understand, Muin said ‘Good,’ and then when he heard the bell, he tapped. It’s unfortunate. Jakub’s a great fighter, and I have nothing against him, but that’s what my brother Muin told me.’ He added, ‘Muin’s never tapped to a choke before. I just want to show everyone what happened. Hopefully, you all enjoyed the fight, and Muin will be back stronger.’
But here’s the kicker: If anyone understands controversial submissions, it’s Dvalishvili himself. Flashback to April 2018—his second UFC fight against Ricky Simon. Dvalishvili was dominating until a mounted guillotine in Round 3 turned the tide. As the clock ticked down, he appeared to lose consciousness, but the bell rang before the ref could stop the fight. Later, it was ruled a technical submission in Simon’s favor, despite Dvalishvili’s team appealing the decision. Talk about a tough break.
That loss, however, became a turning point. Dvalishvili went on a 14-fight win streak, claiming four straight bantamweight championship victories—a streak that only ended recently when he dropped the title to Petr Yan at UFC 323. Now, the question looms: Can Gafurov—who also missed weight by five pounds for this fight—stage a similar comeback?
Controversy alert: Was Gafurov’s tap-out a genuine mistake, or did the pressure of the choke play a bigger role than he admits? And should fighters be held accountable for reacting to a bell they think they heard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
