Simon earns controversial TKO win over Dvalishvili with late choke

Ricky Simon won his UFC debut in strange fashion Saturday night in Atlantic City.

After appearing to lose the first two rounds to Merab Dvalishvili, the young bantamweight locked in a guillotine choke in the final minute of the third round. Dvalishvili appeared to lose consciousness momentarily but managed to keep his legs churning to show he was still awake and refused to tap out before the round ended.

The bell rang, but Dvalishvili looked nearly unconscious despite keeping his eyes open and was examined by doctors and UFC officials. After speaking with commission officials, the referee ruled he was unconscious at the end of the round, awarding Simon the TKO victory in Round 3.

Dvalishvili told reporters that he believed he had won and that doctors told him to stay down after the final bell.

"He took me down and I couldn't move. I just waited because there was only a short amount of time left," Dvalishvili said about initially appearing to be unconscious, according to MMA Fighting's Shaheen Al-Shatti. "When it was finished, I was just tired and stayed down. I knew I had won.

"The doctors told me to stay down. I don't know why they gave it to him. I feel I'm the winner. I didn't lose this fight."

It was the latest finish ever in a three-round UFC fight, according to Michael Carroll of Fight Metric. If the fight had gone to the judges, Dvalishvili would have won on the scorecards by split decision.

The win was Simon's first in the UFC and sixth straight overall, while Dvalishvili has now lost his first two bouts in the promotion.