At UFC Vegas 113 held in Las Vegas, Jakub Wiklacz firmly believes that his opponent, Muin Gafurov, tapped out during their bantamweight fight, a claim sparking debate following the event. Despite Gafurov reportedly missing weight by five pounds and the fight being conducted outside the standard bantamweight limit, the controversy centered mainly on the fight’s closing seconds in the third round.
Wiklacz’s View on the Submission Finish
Jakub Wiklacz, now holding an 18-3-2 record, described how he secured a guillotine choke late in the final round and felt Gafurov submit. Speaking to Cageside Press, Wiklacz said,
“I felt the tap, but first I just grabbed this gilly, and I was like, maybe it won’t be a submission, but I’ll try,”
and added,
“Then I could hear he was breathing hard.”
His confidence grew, and he recalled thinking,
“I got him, I got him. I need to continue that.”
Although the referee initially ended the fight due to time running out, Wiklacz contested this explanation, convinced the stoppage was due to a tap.
“He’s like ‘it was the time, it was the time’ and [I’m] like ‘f*ck no, it wasn’t time, it was a tapout. Just rewatch it! Rewatch it!’ And then I’m waiting for a replay, and I see him tapping out and I was f*cking crazy,”
he explained.
Respect and Confirmation After the Fight
Following the contentious finish, both fighters exchanged respect, but Wiklacz was clear in asserting the tapout occurred. Gafurov opted to withhold immediate judgment, saying they would wait to see the replay. Ultimately, video evidence confirmed Wiklacz had locked in a submission with one second remaining on the clock.
Wiklacz’s Future Aspirations Within UFC
Jakub Wiklacz, now 2-0 in the UFC with wins over Muin Gafurov and former Bellator competitor Patchy Mix, expressed ambitions to fight more often in the United States or to bring UFC events to Poland. He believes fighting in America is crucial for growing his supporter base.
He stated,
“I want to win, but I know I have a style like this that they will love me.”
Willingness to Compete Despite Weight Discrepancy
The 29-year-old former KSW champion said he never considered refusing the fight, even after learning Gafurov missed weight by a significant margin. He explained,
“No. Maybe in another period of the career, maybe I will think about it. But in the UFC, I just want to show myself that, I don’t want to just stay here, win fight, lose fight, win fight, lose fight. I just want to get to the top. That’s why I was like, ‘okay.’”
Thoughts on Opponent and Career Progression
When UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby informed Wiklacz about Gafurov’s failure to make weight, Wiklacz consulted with his team but promptly accepted the bout. He added,
“It’s even better to win with an opponent who didn’t cut the weight, and he was fresh,”
and reflected,
“At first, I was feeling like he didn’t respect me, but now I like him. I have nothing to do with him, I just want to show that I belong here, and I want to get a ranked opponent.”
Implications for UFC and Polish MMA Scene
Jakub Wiklacz’s persistence and clarity in his claim of a tapout highlight ongoing issues related to referee decisions and weight management in UFC bouts. His ambitions to expand his career in America and potentially bring UFC events to Poland could influence the promotion’s reach in Eastern Europe. With a solid UFC record and a growing fan base, Wiklacz is positioning himself as a notable contender in the bantamweight division, with future ranked opponents likely on the horizon.
