MMA Preview – Yadong Song vs Ricky Simon at UFC Fight Night 223
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YADONG SONG VS RICKY SIMON FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 223? April 29th March, 2023 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 223? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 223? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 223 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 223? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
YADONG SONG VS RICKY SIMON LOWDOWN
Yadong Song (19-7-1) has been touted as a title contender for a long time and it seemed he was on the cusp after starching Marlon Moraes last year. That ‘Performance of the Night’ came after outpointing Casey Kenney (2021) and knocking out Julio Arce (2022) with a beautiful head kick which led him into the path of the former title challenger Cory Sandhagen. A bad cut forced the doctor to call the fight off, but Sandhagen had a touch more class on the night.
Ricky Simon (20-3) has been oozing class since he lost twice in a row to Uriah Faber (TKO) and Rob Font (unanimous decision) back in 2019. He has gone on to rack up five dominant wins including a knockout over veteran Raphael Assuncao (2021) and a submission over Jack Shore (2022) handing the Welshman his first ever loss.
YADONG SONG VS RICKY SIMON PREDICTION
This was originally the co-main event for UFC Fight Night 222 last week so has gone from a three-round to a five-round contest. This is great for the fans and fortunately, neither of them will suffer as they have great cardio.
They have both evolved into well-rounded Mixed Martial Artists, but they have contrasting routes to victory. Song’s strengths lie is his striking and Simon is one of the best wrestlers in the division.
They match up similarly physically, but Song is a lot more explosive and possesses knockout power. Simon will have the confidence in feeling him out on the feet, but he will use his strikes to set up a takedown.
If Simon can take Song down, the clock will be his friend and he will be able to drain the gas tank while bagging the rounds. However, Song has a healthy 71% takedown defence and every time Simon shoots in, he will be risking getting caught by flashing uppercut or knee down the middle.
There is little between them in the odds and the bold pick would be a Song knockout which is always a possibility with his lightening hands and head kicks. However, we feel the wrestling and pressure of Simon will be enough to subdue Song and win three rounds at least.
Prediction: Simon via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value bet: Song via KO/TKO
