MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a deeper look at the main event of UFC Vegas 72, a five-round bantamweight bout between Ricky Simon and Song Yadong. The event takes place on Saturday, April 29 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ricky Simon (-120)
Simon (20-3) is the No. 12 ranked bantamweight in the UFC. The 25-year-old American joined the UFC back in 2018 and so far he has an 8-2 record in the UFC, with notable wins over Merab Dvalishvili, Montel Jackson, and Jack Shore. Simon is a very well-rounded fighter who is dangerous everywhere. He has good striking, slick submissions on the ground, strong wrestling, and very good cardio. In many ways, he has all of the tools needed to make a run for the title. Given that he’s in his prime right now at 30 years of age, it’s the perfect opportunity for him to make a run up the rankings.
Song Yadong (+100)
Yadong (19-7-1) is the No. 8 ranked bantamweight in the UFC. The 25-year-old joined the UFC in 2017 and he has an 8-2-1 record so far in the promotion with notable wins over the likes of Marlon Moraes, Casey Kenney, and Marlon Vera. Song is a very good, young fighter who has a ton of experience for someone his age. He has great striking on the feet, he is very fast, he has underrated wrestling, and he is very durable with good cardio. He has the tools needed in order to be one of the best bantamweights in the world, so let’s see if he is able to pull off this big win against Simon
Fight Breakdown: This should be an awesome fight between two of the best bantamweight fighters in the world. Both men are ranked in the top 10 of the weight class right now and they should put on a fun fight for the fans. Simon has been red-hot as of late, and momentum often wins out in this sport. But Song is a great fighter, too, and he has a ton of experience for his young age. Both men have a chance to win this fight, as they are both talented and well-rounded. But Simon has been riding the hot hand lately, and it’s tough to go against him now. Given how good Simon has looked lately, you have to pick him to win this fight. He definitely has a chance to get the finish, but Song has proven to be very tough, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Simon outwork him for the decision.
Prediction: Ricky Simon via decision
