Rivalries: Ricky Simon

Hailing from the rustic charm of Pendleton, Oregon, Ricky Simon has carved a name for himself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship through numerous tests in the bantamweight division. Simon transitioned from a wrestling background at Union High School to the prestigious Octagon of the UFC. He also held the Legacy Fighting Alliance bantamweight title.

His journey has been scripted through victories and setbacks, punctuated with a bunch of notable rivalries, with each fight unveiling a novel facet of Simon’s evolution in the sport. The Oregonian will face Mario Bautista in a UFC Fight Night 234 showcase on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

As Simon prepares for his next challenge at the sport’s highest level, a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point.

Chico Camus

Simon locked horns with Camus at LFA 29 on Dec. 15, 2017 in what unfolded as a gripping five-round encounter. The American Top Team product secured a unanimous decision victory, claiming the vacant LFA bantamweight championship. Simon defended his title once against Vinicius Zani, then went on to sign with the UFC.

Merab Dvalishvili

Simon faced the formidable challenge of Dvalishvili in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 128- Barboza vs. Lee on April 21, 2018. Dvalishvili, currently occupying the No. 2 spot in the bantamweight division rankings, engaged in an intense battle with Simon. The two combatants delivered a high-octane performance that earned them well-deserved “Fight of the Night” honors. Simon displayed his grappling prowess and grit, securing a technical submission via guillotine choke in the final round. While Dvalishvilli’s manager initiated a formal petition to the commission seeking a review of the referee’s decision, the appeal was denied and Simon’s submission victory was upheld.

Ray Borg

Another significant encounter in Simon’s UFC journey transpired against a former flyweight title challenger in Borg at UFC Fight Night 171 on May. 13, 2020. Simon went on to win the fight by split decision. Immersed in the intensity of the clash, both fighters engaged in a lively exchange of words, primarily in a good-natured manner, throughout the course of the fight. In the end, Simon’s strategic approach shined through as he was awarded split scorecards and returned to his winning ways after back-to-back losses against Urijah Faber and Rob Font.

Brian Kelleher

Simon’s rivalry with Kelleher posed 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. The UFC sought to book the clash initially on Sept. 5, 2020 and again on Jan. 16, 2021. However, the matchup collapsed on both occasions when Simon’s cornerman tested positive for COVID-19 first and Kelleher later. Simon finally squared off against Kelleher at UFC 258 on Feb. 13, 2021, securing a unanimous decision victory in a featherweight bout.