Fighter refuses to tap at UFC Atlantic City as face turns blue

UFC Atlantic City produced one of the most unbelievable and controversial endings to a contest after a fighter was choked until his face turned blue.

Favourite Merab Dvalishvili controlled his fight against UFC debutant Ricky Simon, until the underdog turned the tables in the final minute, trapping Dvalishvili with a guillotine choke.

Unwilling to have his hard work undone, Dvalishvili refused to tap-out as his face turned blue holding out for the final bell.

Dvalishvili survived the sickening scene, but despite his efforts referee Liam Kerrigan awarded the fight to Simon, deeming Dvalishvili technically unconscious at the final second upon review.

The controversial TKO decision was the first of Simon’s UFC career as he assured the fight belonged to him after the bout.

“A little controversial,” he said.

“I got up, I looked in his eyes, and he was gone. He was out.”

Meanwhile, in the main card event Kevin Lee came back in stunning fashion to best Edson Barboza, setting himself up for a potential fight against Light-weight champion Kabib Nurmegomedov.