Imagine stepping into the octagon, giving it your all, and then tapping out in the final seconds—only to realize the fight wasn’t actually 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 break it down.
According to Gafurov’s teammate, former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Gafurov tapped out just before the final horn in his fight against Jakub Wiklacz because he thought the round had ended. In a social media clip, Gafurov explained, ‘I heard a bell… I was thinking, ‘Why aren’t you letting go? What the hell? Let go!’ But it was still ringing.’ His confusion seems to stem from expecting Wiklacz to release a tight guillotine choke at the sound of the bell—a move that never came. However, replays reveal Gafurov tapped a full second before the bell was clearly audible. Ouch.
Dvalishvili weighed in on the situation, offering his interpretation: ‘From what I understand, Muin said he was okay at first, but when he heard the bell, he tapped. It’s unfortunate. Jakub deserves credit—he’s a solid fighter—but this is my brother’s story.’ Dvalishvili emphasized Gafurov’s pride, noting, ‘He’s never tapped to a choke before. I just want to show everyone what happened. My brother will be back.’
And this is the part most people miss: Dvalishvili knows firsthand what it’s like to be on the wrong side of a controversial submission. In April 2018, during his second UFC fight against Ricky Simon, Dvalishvili found himself in a mounted guillotine in the third round. As the clock ticked down, he appeared to lose consciousness—but the bell rang before the referee intervened. The bout was later ruled a technical submission in Simon’s favor, despite Dvalishvili’s team appealing the decision. Talk about a tough break.
Fast forward to today, and Dvalishvili has since bounced back with a 14-fight win streak, including four bantamweight championship victories. His streak only recently ended with a loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323. But the question remains: Can Gafurov—who also missed weight by five pounds for this fight—stage a similar comeback? Time will tell.
Here’s the controversial question: Was Gafurov’s tap-out a genuine submission, or was it a costly mistake fueled by confusion? And does missing weight add another layer to this already complex story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark differing opinions.
