Ricky Simon, a native of Pendleton, Oregon, has made a name for himself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His journey through the bantamweight division is a testament to his wrestling background from Union High School. He’s not just a UFC fighter, though. Simon also held the Legacy Fighting Alliance bantamweight title.
Simon’s career has been a rollercoaster of wins and losses. Each fight reveals a new aspect of his evolution in the sport. He’s faced notable rivals, each one pushing him to grow. Next up, he’s set to face Mario Bautista in a UFC Fight Night 234 showcase. The fight is scheduled for Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Looking back at Simon’s career, a few rivalries stand out. These rivalries have shaped him as a fighter and helped him reach the sport’s highest level. One such rivalry was with Chico Camus. The two clashed at LFA 29 on Dec. 15, 2017, in a gripping five-round encounter. Simon emerged victorious, claiming the vacant LFA bantamweight championship.
In his Octagon debut, Simon faced the formidable challenge of Merab Dvalishvili. The fight took place at UFC Fight Night 128– Barboza vs. Lee on April 21, 2018. It was an intense battle, earning them “Fight of the Night” honors. Simon showed his grappling skills and determination, securing a technical submission via guillotine choke in the final round.
Simon’s journey in the UFC also included a significant encounter with former flyweight title challenger Ray Borg. The two faced off at UFC Fight Night 171 on May 13, 2020. Simon won the fight by a split decision, returning to his winning ways after back-to-back losses against Urijah Faber and Rob Font.
Finally, Simon’s rivalry with Brian Kelleher was a challenging matchup for the UFC to put together. The bout was scheduled twice, only to be canceled on both occasions before the fighters eventually squared off inside the Octagon. Simon finally squared off against Kelleher at UFC 258 on Feb. 13, 2021, securing a unanimous decision victory in a featherweight bout.