Do you remember UFC Fight Night 128? Probably not, as it took place in 2018… And why should you care, anyway?
Here’s why: that’s when one of the strangest UFC endings in history happened!
In the fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Ricky Simon, Dvalishvili resisted against the Guillotine Choke and never tapped. However, officials for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board ruled that the he was actually unconscious at the end of the bout!
The stoppage happened at 5:00 of the third round — literally the last second of the fight. That makes it the latest stoppage in a three-round bout in UFC history!
But was Dvalishvili really out? Check out the video below; you’ll see him fighting off the Guillotine until that very last second.
Somehow he didn’t tap 👀 pic.twitter.com/tBk6I2db3u
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 22, 2018
Even though he didn’t referee the bout, the well-respected UFC referee Marc Goddard weighed in to explain what happened – and why Simon was a clear winner:
I think it was pretty clear at the end of the fight, maybe even before, when the bell sounded, Dvalishvili… He was actually out. And in that instance, it’s like any other instance if you pick up a rear-naked choke or a guillotine. The fact that he drifts into unconsciousness was actually — it should be recorded as a submission, technical submission.
What do you think happened in this, possibly strangest, UFC ending in history? Was Dvalishvili out?
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