VIDEO: MMA Fighter Tries Fake Tap To Escape Rare Submission

This fighter surprised his opponent and almost managed to fool the referee.

A recent welterweight matchup in Peru only lasted less than a minute and provided one of the strangest endings to an MMA bout in recent memory.

Sebastian Fernandez and Jefferson Araujo made their respective pro debuts opposite one another this week at Fusion FC 66 in Lima, Peru following the conclusion of their amateur careers.

Scheduled to meet on the FFC 66 prelims, Fernandez immediately shot for a takedown once the fight started and brought his opponent to the mat.

Araujo wrapped up Fernandez’s neck to attempt a guillotine choke as the latter fighter established top position, but when he refused to let go of the failed submission it created the chance for Fernandez to set up a rarely-seen Von Flue choke.

First for me, what just happened at #FFC66 pic.twitter.com/VlYm2jc6cR

— handslikengannou (@likengannou710) September 29, 2023

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With Fernandez applying pressure from half guard, Araujo quite clearly tapped several times with his right hand but then immediately tried to start fighting again as soon as his countryman released the submission.

An understandably confused Fernandez defended himself and began protesting before the referee finally intervened. Araujo held his hands up in a comical display of innocence as the official questioned him and then thankfully called an end to the fight.

The replay of the finishing sequence clearly showed Araujo tapping to the submission while the official looked on, and luckily neither the referee's apparent negligence nor Araujo’s attempt at a fake tap managed to spoil a submission win that would make UFC veteran Ovince Saint-Preux and Jason Von Flue proud. 

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