In one of the most dramatic finishes in MMA history, Adriano Moraes defeated Phumi Nkuta with a rear naked choke in the final second of their bout…

With the result confirmed after review by the California State Athletic Commission.

The official result was recorded as a third-round technical submission at 4:59, meaning the choke was applied and finished just before the final bell.

Moraes entered the fight looking to rebound from a loss to Yuya Wakamatsu, while Nkuta stepped in on short notice with an undefeated 11-0 record, replacing Muhammad Mokaev.

For much of the fight, it appeared Nkuta was on track for a breakout victory.
In the opening round, he hurt Moraes with heavy punches, dropped him to the canvas, and nearly secured a finish with an arm triangle choke before time expired.

He continued to impress in the second round, escaping a dangerous back position from Moraes and reversing control, showcasing his grappling ability.

The third round turned into a back-and-forth battle, with both fighters exchanging strikes and pushing the pace as the clock ticked down.
With less than 30 seconds remaining, neither fighter showed signs of backing off.

In the final moments, Moraes took Nkuta’s back, quickly locking in a rear naked choke as time expired.
Although the horn sounded and the fighters were separated, Nkuta did not immediately stand up.

Officials reviewed the sequence to determine the timing of the finish, ultimately ruling that Nkuta had lost consciousness before the end of the fight.
The submission was therefore deemed valid, securing Moraes one of the most remarkable comeback victories of his career.

One of the wildest ending sequences to a fight I’ve ever seen.

Was Nkuta out before the bell?

Herb Dean rules it a technical submission for Moraes at 4:59 of Round 3. pic.twitter.com/AU5S5phXGR

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 17, 2026

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