Bantamweights takes centre stage at UFC Vegas 72, with #8 ranked Song Yadong taking on #10 Ricky Simon in the main event. This is a huge opportunity for both men to continue climbing the ranks in a very deep division. The odds are virtually even, and the styles will clash in this matchup. Here are the keys to victory in what should be a high-level battle between two elite-level fighters.
UFC Vegas 72: Keys for Ricky Simon
The first thing to note for Simon is this will be his first 5 round fight in the UFC. Even with the recent inexperience in 5 round fights, Simon has given us no reason to doubt his ability to go 25 minutes. His striking has been improving fight after fight, but that is still something he should look to avoid in this matchup. Recently, Simon has been on a heater, winning five straight, including beating fellow top prospect Jack Shore his last time out. The skill is rising, and it seems Simon is in the midst of his prime, and a win here leaves him extremely close to a title shot.
The biggest key for Simon to get the victory here is maximizing his pressure wrestling style. Yadong has been taken down before, and Simon will be the best wrestler he has faced to date. Yadong has never been submitted in his career, meaning Simon will need to utilize his base early and often. This can very well go the full 25 minutes, and Simon should look to avoid danger as much as possible. Constant takedowns do not always lead to the most exciting fight, but that is the clearest path for Simon to win. His striking should be utilized as little as possible, mostly thrown to pressure and set up the grappling. On the defensive side, Simon will need to have great movement and fight IQ. It is well-known how hard Yadong hits which should lead to Simon fighting smart, avoiding the boxing range Song wants, and defending the big strikes.
Keys for Song Yadong
Song is coming off a great fight with title challenger Cory Sandhagen in which he came up short. This will be his second straight main event spot as he becomes more well-known to the casual audience. Song is an easy fighter to root for as he brings an exciting all-action style backed with undeniable toughness. The rankings at 135 are among the best in any current MMA division, and Song could find himself creeping near the top 5 with a victory.
Yadong arguably has more keys to victory in the matchup and possesses most of the finishing capabilities. Step one in the plan for a win here should be focusing on his takedown defence. Limiting not only the volume of takedowns but also the control time and damage will be a huge factor. On the feet, Yadong must do damage and win moments with his much cleaner striking. Although it was only once, we had seen Simon hurt badly before and finished. Yadong definitely has the technique and power to hurt Simon and could even find a stoppage. You can’t solely rely on a finish as Simon is tough, but knockdowns or visible damage will go a long way. Damage will be favourable for the scorecards as it does come first in the scoring criteria.
How do you feel Ricky Simon and Song Yadong unfolds at UFC Vegas 72? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
