Imagine this: you’re in the middle of a high-stakes UFC fight, seconds away from the final bell, and you hear what you think is the sound of victory—only to realize it’s not over yet. 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... Was it a genuine mistake, or did Gafurov tap out too soon? Let’s dive into the details.
According to Gafurov’s teammate, former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Gafurov tapped out at the very last second of his fight against Jakub Wiklacz because he thought the fight had already ended. In a social media clip, Gafurov explained his side of the story: ‘I heard a bell. I was thinking, ‘Why aren’t you letting go? What’s going on? Let go!’ But it was still ringing.’ And this is the part most people miss... Replays show Gafurov tapping a full second before the bell could clearly be heard, raising questions about whether his confusion was the real reason for his tap.
Dvalishvili tried to clarify the situation, saying, ‘From what I understand, Muin said he was okay at first, but when he heard the bell, he tapped. It’s really unfortunate. Jakub deserves credit—he’s a great fighter—but this is what my brother Muin told me.’ Dvalishvili emphasized that Gafurov has never tapped to a choke before, making this moment even more unusual. ‘I just want to show you all what happened,’ he added. ‘I hope you enjoyed the fight, and Muin will be back stronger.’
Here’s the bold part... If anyone understands the frustration of a controversial submission, it’s Dvalishvili himself. Back in April 2018, during his second UFC appearance against Ricky Simon, Dvalishvili found himself in a mounted guillotine choke in the third round. As time ran out, he appeared to lose consciousness, but the bell rang before the referee could stop the fight. Later, it was ruled a technical submission in Simon’s favor, despite Dvalishvili’s team’s attempts to appeal. This loss marked the beginning of Dvalishvili’s remarkable 14-fight win streak, which included four bantamweight championship victories—a streak that only recently ended with his loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323.
Now, the question remains: Can Gafurov—who also missed weight by five pounds for this fight—turn his luck around like Dvalishvili did? Only time will tell. But here’s the real question for you... Was Gafurov’s tap-out a genuine mistake, or did he let the pressure get the best of him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark some heated opinions!
