With Yadong’s striking prowess and Simon’s relentless wrestling, it’s an MMA chess match that’s got the odds-makers working overtime. Read on as we dissect this electrifying matchup, offering you the best betting tips and odds before the UFC Fight Night 223 main event.

Betting Odds

Ricky Simon’s the betting favorite at odds of -136. Song’s a slight underdog and can be found at + odds at some sites, including BetUS.

• Simon: -136 (BetUS)
• Song: +107 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get a sign-up bonus up to $2,500

Fight Analysis

Song Yadong, an 11-fight UFC veteran, is still just 25 years old. The culmination of vast UFC experience with that of still being outside of the age range widely considered to be MMA prime is very unique. Beyond this uniqueness, it is quite scary to think that Yadong has still yet to hit his prime, as he is one of the most electrifying fighters in the bantamweight division with dwindling flaws in his fight game.

From a fight-strength perspective, Song Yadong has an elite striking arsenal built on the ability to blend lightning-quick punches with snapping power. Whether it is landing underrated calf kicks from the outside or using impressive footwork to get in range, land a lighting-fast boxing combination, and exit range before getting countered, Yadong can strike with the best of them.

While his offensive striking is sound, Yadong can get into trouble with falling in love with getting into a striking war, as he is more than willing to wear one to give one. Moreover, being a sound offensive striker, he has faced trouble in the past with getting grappled. This defensive grappling issue was far more prevalent in years past than in recent note, as he has fought far more pragmatically, and when in balance, he has more than sound wrestling to stuff takedowns. That newfound ability to confidently stuff takedowns, and in fact, successfully offensive wrestle talented grapplers will be at an all-time test for him in this fight, and if he can pass it, then his hands give him more than a chance to win.

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get a sign-up bonus up to $2,500

As referenced above, Ricky Simon is an incredible wrestler. Somewhat similarly to Merab Dvalishvili, Simon puts on a constant, in-your-face pressure that is relentless and cardio-depleting for his opponents to deal with. Moreover, Simon, just like Merab, will pursue the takedown over and over, thus making him a very consistent fighter in the octagon with a sustained path to victory.

The scary aspect of Simon’s fight game, beyond having unrelenting and talented wrestling, is the fact that he has serious power on the feet, and, understands how to leverage this power to exacerbate his wrestling success. Often, when a fighter uses overhand punches to get in close and wrestle, I coin them “wrestle boxers”, and Simon is not only befitting of this tag but perhaps, at the top of the wrestle-boxer mountain for all UFC fighters.

As one can presume when watching predominate wrestlers in the UFC, the flaw in Simon’s fight game is when his wrestling is not as effective as he would like. If the takedown is continually stalled, Simon lacks fluid, technical striking on the feet to defend against talented striking technicians. While the case, this simply does not come to fruition all that often, as he has implemented his will on his opponents, who, many, are very talented UFC fighters with sound grappling acumen; but for Simon, the technical wrestling coupled with unrelenting pressure and natural strength, he has been able to get fighters to the mat, and once there, he is very heavy and has good submissions as well as ground and pound.

Betting Tips

The best thing Song Yadong has going for him is training in Team Alpha Male. This gym is littered with impressive wrestlers, many of whom fight at his weight. Couple this with the fact he is already a good wrestler with talented striking, and he can certainly win this fight.

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get a sign-up bonus up to $2,500

While this is the case, I cannot go against the freight train that is Ricky Simon. Simon displayed an ability to implement his will in his last fight against the talented Jack Shore, as he completely dominated from start to finish. I expect him to do the same, but the degree of domination will likely be less given the talent of Yadong.

Ultimately, I anticipate this fight looking quite similar to Merab vs Petr Yan, whereby Merab used unrelenting cardio to disallow the uber-talented Yan to get anything going in that fight. Because of this, I am taking Simon, and because the price is more than bettable, I am taking him straight here.

Pick: Ricky Simon to win (-136 at BetUS)

Read more: Braeden Arbour’s Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong prediction

The post Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simon betting odds, tips appeared first on The Body Lock.

Song who currently holds wins over Marlon Vera, Casey Kenny, and Marlon Moraes made a big step up when he faced top contender Cory Sandhagen last September. The fight pulled away from him after suffering a nasty cut in the second round, but even in defeat Song proved to many fans he could be a future title challenger. To live up to that hype he will need to get past Simon, who sits two ranks below him, and prove again that he deserves a fight closer to the top 5.

Betting Odds

Ricky Simon will come into the fight as the favorite to win. Oddsmakers looking to play the underdog could win $107 on every $100 placed on Song.

• Simon: -136 (BetUS)
• Song: +107 (BetUS)

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get a sign-up bonus up to $2,500

Fight Breakdown

Ricky Simon’s base style comes from his high-level wrestling as a teenager. He utilized these skills as his roots when he early on transitioned to MMA, but his wrestling ability is still his most dominant skill. On the feet, he keeps a high guard, and a low stance, contrasting the more upright approach of Song. This allows him to stay cocked and ready for a level change at any moment, however, his quickness is potentially a shade behind Song. The diversity in his striking game is also a bit less pronounced, he sticks to his basic boxing combinations and very effective low kicks, but to keep up with Song’s striking he will need to mix the threat of the takedown into his feints consistently.

Song Yadong is supremely quick and explosive, both in his ability to slip punches and counter, but also in his sprawls. That being said, because he is so quick to react, he can react very big, and by getting him to drop dramatically under threat of a takedown, Simon will better open Song up to his big overhand rights and hooks.

Song Yadong is constantly evolving between fights, and that’s one of the variables always present, what new developments and changes will we see in his style every time he fights? As he progresses towards bigger stages, and likely more five-round contests as with his last, we have seen him shorten his stance, elect to plod forward instead of bounce and leap, and pick his moments to explode more efficiently.

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get a sign-up bonus up to $2,500

So expect him to mostly be the one pushing forward, although he still needs to make sure he is chasing, rather than cutting off the cage to avoid running to a level change. Song has shown excellent head movement as of late and a superior ability to strike off of angles to Simon, in particular, Song used a very crafty, slip off the right hand and angle back with a counter left hook in his last outing. He also likes to lead with the right cross or right body kick then follow up with a whipping left hook.

Simon has a very high-level chain wrestling game and a variety of ways he likes to shoot. One of which involves slipping punches directly onto the hips and running the pipe into the fence. Where he has a lot of ways he enters range, a lot of the time it involves getting to double underhooks, and once there a significant amount of attempts ends up in the clinch against the cage. One of the holes we have seen from Simon is from the clinch, where he will win wrestling exchanges, he will often take the brunt of strikes if that clinch is broken. Song has a unique ability to explode off the cage with big hooks when given space so watch for big shots in this scenario.

Song is almost impossible to get to the ground but if he is, he almost always scrambles back to his feet. Simon does a great job of immediately ‘figure four’ing the legs and getting to a body lock, but if he does not get passed the knees look for Song to use butterfly hooks to create a scramble. On top Simon is constant in his ability to re-address his hold on the body, pull arms back that are being used to post, and suck the hips back away from the fence. However because all of these tactics revolve around the upper body, he does tend to land very little ground and pound while he wrestles. While grappling he is a big control time fighter, and on the feet is where his power and damage really shine.

Prediction and Betting Guide

Despite being the underdog, Song’s skills match up very well with Simon’s. His takedown defense is among his best tools and his ability to scramble out of bad positions especially early will come into play. Coming down from a main event camp in his last fight should help Song’s confidence going another five rounds, with it being Simon’s first.

Special Offer: Sign up to BetUS today and get a sign-up bonus up to $2,500

For Simon, it’s about consistently putting Song’s back on the canvas and landing power shots as Song advances on the feet, which is also very doable with his skill set. However, I see Song’s ability to strike in transitions between the grappling and striking and his ability to defend those takedowns edging him out and making him the better bet as the underdog.

Pick: Song to win (+107)

Read more: Joe Pounders’ Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simon betting tips

The post Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong prediction | UFC Fight Night 222 appeared first on The Body Lock.

Ricky Simon vs. Jack Shore is an upcoming bout on the UFC on ABC 3 early preliminary card this weekend.

Betting Odds

Jack Shore opened as a slight favorite over Ricky Simon and has steadily grown throughout the week.

• Ricky Simon: +135 (MyBookie)
• Jack Shore: -165 (MyBookie)

Breakdown

Simon is the epitome of an aggressive hard-nosed wrestle-boxer. Simon typically fights with a wide base, stalking forward, always primed to explode into a takedown. While striking, Simon swings big and lands heavy but can hit air more often than his opponent. As with many wrestle boxers, Simon’s aggressive striking is designed as a setup for his explosive and dominant wrestling. He will use the momentum of his looping power shots coupled with his opponent backing up on the straight line to avoid the big strike to create the perfect situation for a takedown attempt.

When Simon wrestles, which is often, he uses power single and double leg takedown attempts to almost spear his opponent to the mat. Simon averages 6.7 takedown attempts per fight and lands them more than 50% of the time. The few times Simon has struggled is when fighters have the high-level striking and footwork to stick’n move off the center line and keep the fight standing. Those situations are few and far between though, more often than not, Simon’s opponents have struggled to keep up with his high-octane and elite wrestle boxing style.

Shore had a fair amount of hype when entering the UFC, and yet, he’s still found ways to impress. On the feet, Shore has crisp boxing with solid pop. He often fights behind an intelligent jab, keeps a high volume, and lands at nearly a 60% clip. Shore has technical hands and fluid footwork, which help him to hit while not often getting hit in return. Similar to his opponent, Shore is an accredited wrestler. He averages just over four takedowns per fight at a 41% clip. Unlike Simon, who will shoot power double legs, Shore’s wrestling is more of a submission-focused attack. Shore will often clinch against the cage and look to transition to the back of his opponent.

He is skilled at dirty boxing and body positioning, so he can exploit even the smallest of openings, take the back, lock in a body triangle, and secure a choke. Shore 7 of Shore’s 16 wins have come from a rear-naked choke; once he gets the back, it’s only a matter of time. This young prospect has the makings of a highly-ranked fighter, but Simon is no joke. This is not going to be a fight you want to miss!

Prediction

This fight should be incredibly high level, all action and fun. I’m anticipating the early minutes of the round to play out on the feet, with Shore landing more often and efficiently. Then, one of these two will likely go for a takedown. Regardless of who initiates the attempt, I like Shore to win the scrambles, keep the fight standing or reverse position. Both men are high level, so it will be close, but I’m siding with Shore to be a slight step ahead on the feet and on the mat.

Prediction: Jack Shore to win (-165 odds to win at MyBookie)

The post Prediction: Ricky Simon vs Jack Shore | UFC on ABC 3 appeared first on The Body Lock.

Read on for Ricky Simon vs. Brian Kelleher play-by-play updates or simply tune into our live fight companion on YouTube below.

Watch UFC 258 Fight Companion

Ricky Simon vs. Brian Kelleher play-by-play

Round one

Maki Pitolo vs. Julian Marquez has finished. Simon vs. Kelleher is up next.

Both fighters rush to the middle of the cage. Simon already on top after a fast takedown, and he lands in half guard. Kelleher rushes to scramble out of the position but Simon jumps back on him. Kelleher is bleeding from a huge cut on the inside of his eyebrow. He’s been cut by an elbow and the blood is dripping into his right eye. Simon pushing Kelleher to the cage. Kelleher considers jumping the guillotine but Simon slices past Kelleher’s guard and lands in half guard. Simon is already working on an arm-triangle from half guard. Kelleher is being overwhelmed by Simon’s pressure so far. Kelleher escapes and is now in turtle. Simon slides to the back but this allows Kelleher to separate. The blood is disrupting Kelleher’s vision and is clearly bothering him. Kelleher calf kick. Simon ferocious double-leg takedown and Kelleher can’t grab the guillotine. Simon again slices through Kelleher’s guard and is in another potential arm-triangle position. Kelleher kicks Simon off but there’s so much blood dripping into Kelleher’s eye now. Another takedown attempt is stuffed. Two leg kicks from Simon.

The Body Lock scores round one for Ricky Simon (10-9)

Round two

Kelleher has a chance to settle into this fight now. They’re standing to start round two. Simon looks dangerous. Going to the legs of Kelleher. Both fighters feinting. Kelleher left head kick blocked. Front kick lands. Simon catches the Kelleher kick and follows him to the mat. Kelleher lands again with a powerful right hand. Simon still pressuring but not going back to the takedowns that helped him in round one. Kelleher double jab pushes back Simon. Simon calf kick is checked but he goes straight back to it. Simon first takedown attempt of the round and Kelleher instantly goes to the guillotine again. It’s not there for Kelleher, though, and it allows Simon to settle into top position against the cage. Simon left-hand lands. A much closer round. Harder to score.

The Body Lock scores round two for Ricky Simon (10-9, 20-18)

Round three

Kelleher advancing and making Simon fight on the back foot to start round three. Simon combination but doesn’t sneak through the guard. Kelleher settling in now. Jabs are connecting. Simon jab and then two upward-elbows. Simon pressing Kelleher to the cage now. Happy to just control the fight from here and stall Kelleher. Simon drops and lands in top position in half guard before launching a few big elbows. Simon still on top and stopping Kelleher’s attempts to transition. Simon crushes Kelleher with another elbow from the clinch now as they’ve worked back to standing position. Simon with another takedown attempt. Kelleher kneeling and Simon driving knees into his hamstring. Kelleher having success with kicks to end the round but far too late.

Simon’s takedowns were the biggest factor here. Kelleher could only respond with a guillotine attempt and it would allow Simon to secure the takedown and pass guard.

The Body Lock scores round three for Ricky Simon (10-9, 30-27)

Official result: Ricky Simon def. Brian Kelleher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Read our full UFC 258 results here.

The post UFC 258: Ricky Simon vs. Brian Kelleher play-by-play and results appeared first on The Body Lock.

The 15-2 Simon entered the UFC in April 2018 as one of the hottest prospects in the world. And his still early tenure to this point has proven exactly why.

A former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion, Simon would win his first three fights in the Octagon all in exciting and impressive fashion. Unfortunately, his fourth Octagon appearance would see him suffer his second career defeat.

Simon would welcome back the legendary Urijah Faber from retirement in “The California Kid’s” hometown of Sacramento, California. Exchanging with the former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight king early, Simon would ultimately be the one to go down.

“The plan was to be in his face,” Simon explained on the Drake’s Takes podcast in August. “I wouldn’t love doing this as much as I do if there wasn’t that f*cking knot in your stomach because you know that that can happen. You can go out and get a knockout or get knocked out in front of a sold-out arena. And that’s why I love the sport and that’s why I hate it.”

Now two and a half months removed from the loss and the generally extremely active Washingtonian is ready to get back at it.

Despite his last fight not being the longest of wars that you’ll ever see, damage can be accumulated in the world of MMA in less time than one might imagine. All it takes is one shot. And for Simon, he received a rather large hematoma on his shin around the time of the Faber fight. Which, he indeed confirmed was not a staph infection.

“No! That’s a rumor, Jake Smith spread that damn rumor and you’re helping him now,” Simon said with a laugh to The Body Lock. “I had this huge hematoma on my leg, like on the tibia. The tissue from the muscle separated, a bunch of blood clots got in there. I mean, it definitely looked like it was something crazy going on. So people believe that it was staph but it was not staph. You know, I got it drained and I was good. I was training within a couple days after that.”

Staph or not, the leg is all healed and ready to get back to dishing out damage to UFC bantamweights. Something that the American Top Team: Portland product has already begun unleashing upon his teammates.

“Oh yeah, I’m kicking people so hard, I was just kicking [Cris] ‘Sunshine’ [Lencioni] in the gym the other day,” Simon shared. “He’s getting ready for a big fight against a Glory [kickboxing] guy. So I was freaking throw some kicks out with that leg. So yeah, we’re all good. I’m waiting for a fight. I hung out with Sean Shelby in Mexico City. I was begging him for a fight. So hopefully we get something before the end of the year.”

When Simon took on Faber in July, he was ranked in the No. 15 spot in his 135-pound weight class. Just barely on the outside looking in at this point, a big rebound win could be just what he needs to get back onto the list of names with numbers beside them… especially if he beats one next.

Never one to sell himself short, Simon tweeted out his interest in welcoming former UFC lightweight champion and multiple time featherweight challenger, Frankie Edgar, to the ranks of 135. This came a few weeks after Edgar lost his third crack at the 145-pound title thus prompting a believed move down in weight.

It was an ambitious callout and a “Why not?” kind of move and crazier things have happened. But along with it, Simon wanted to get back in the Octagon in November.

“Talking to my manager and the UFC, [November] doesn’t sound like it’s an option,” Simon said. “But I didn’t think Urijah was an option at the time. They just hit you up and see if you’re interested, you know? I was kind of being asked to jump on the Singapore card. That doesn’t sound like that was gonna end up happening. I heard [Renan] Barao needed an opponent at 145 [pounds]. But that’s in Brazil. And I don’t know how strict the testing is in Brazil. So I don’t know. There’s always options. But man, I just want to fight soon. I told the UFC that, you know, just give me a fight. I’ll fight whoever.

“They were trying to tell me they’re booked up until like January. So unless something can happen… I asked for Rob Font. There’s some East Coast card coming up. And that is the end of November, December in Washington [DC]. I think Rob Font would be good. We’ve been trying to fight each other. He’s No. 11 in the world right now. He agreed to fight me after I beat Rani Yahya. So I mean, that’d be a perfect fight back, I think. He’s a ranked opponent. He hasn’t been a while but that would be a good one.”

For Simon, his last win came over Rani Yahya at UFC 234 via a dominant unanimous decision that saw him snap the BJJ blackbelt’s impressive three-fight winning streak of submissions.

In the case of Rob Font, a fight with Simon before the year’s end would be his first of 2019 as the last time we saw him was at UFC Milwaukie in December 2018. He would score a unanimous decision win of his own over the perennial top flyweight contender, Sergio Pettis.

The post Ricky Simon looking to bounce back with fight against Rob Font appeared first on The Body Lock.