UFC Fight Night: Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez Preview & Prediction
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A bantamweight bout that promises to be a banger, as action-packed Ricky Simon looks to assert his multi-dimensional game against returning fan favourite Adrian Yanez.
Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez facts
What time are Ricky Simon and Adrian Yanez expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 270
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer main card
Israel Adesanya vs Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber (Women’s Flyweight)
Michael Chiesa vs Niko Price (Welterweight)
Julian Erosa vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)
Mansur Abdul Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)
Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer prelims
Ignacio Bahamondes vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Chase Hooper vs Lance Gibson Jr (Lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes (Women’s Flyweight)
Navajo Stirling vs Bruno Lopes (Light Heavyweight)
Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)
Alexia Thainara vs Bruna Brasil (Women’s Strawweight)
Ricky Simon: The relentless Oregonian looking to stake his claim in the bantamweight picture
Ricky Simon (22-7) has quietly built himself back into relevance after a rough stretch, going 2-1 in his most recent run with wins over Javid Basharat and Cameron Smotherman, his only blemish being a decision loss to Raoni Barcelos, a result that's aged well given the Brazilian's status as one of the division's most underrated operators. Simon is a physically imposing bantamweight who constantly keeps busy, mixing his wrestling seamlessly into his striking game to keep opponents guessing. He throws out heavy front kicks up the middle, chains takedown attempts, and is relentless in his work on the fence, threatening submissions while doing just enough on the ground to keep the referee at bay. His boxing is moderate but he compensates with sheer output.
Adrian Yanez: The slick Texan boxer looking to dissolve two years of ring rust
Adrian Yanez (17-6) burst onto the scene in emphatic fashion, going 5-0 inside the octagon to crack the bantamweight top 15 before dropping losses to Rob Font and Jonathan Martinez. He then went 1-1 in his most recent bouts and hasn't competed since dropping a decision to Daniel Marcos, meaning he'll be walking into this fight with about two years of ring rust. Yanez is an excellent boxer with fast hands, a lovely jab, and sharp counters. However, his footwork can leave him upright and square in the pocket, and when exchanges ramp up his takedown defence becomes a lot weaker, particularly when he's focused more on landing the cleaner shot.
Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez prediction
Yanez has the edge in pure boxing, but the difference between the two on the feet is nowhere near as significant as the difference in overall weapons, and that's where Simon should be able to tip the scales over three rounds. The wrestling is the defining factor. Simon has shown he can drag fights to the fence, pressure opponents with takedown chains, and control enough to grind out rounds even when he isn't landing the decisive shots. Yanez's takedown defence has been questionable even when he's sharp and match-fit, against Marcos he was taken down in moments where he was leaning into pocket exchanges, standing too upright and too focused on getting the better of the boxing. Two years out of competition isn't going to make any of that easier to deal with.
There's also a question of pace and stamina. Simon brings high output from bell to bell and rarely fades, he was still showing urgency in the final round against Barcelos in their gruelling fight together. Yanez hasn't been tested at that pace recently, and if Simon can get him working in the later rounds, the ring rust could become very real. Yanez has good enough boxing to keep things competitive and could potentially nick a round or two on the feet, but Simon's relentless pressure, wrestling, and overall output should be more than enough to place him on the victor's podium.
This fight deserves to be on the main event – don't sleep on it.
Prediction: Ricky Simon to win
