Song Yadong vs Ricky Simón headline UFC Fight Night 233. The pair originally on the UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes fight card was moved to this weekend when the headline bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano was disrupted due to an injury to Moicano. The fighters are in the top ten of the UFC Bantamweight rankings.
MMA: UFC Bantamweight
Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Where to watch: ESPN+
Date: 30.4.2023, 04:00
Song Yadong
The Chinese fighter, known as "The Kung Fu Kid," has made a name for himself with his explosive striking style and impressive knockout power. Yadong began his professional MMA career in 2013, and after amassing a very good record, he signed with the UFC in 2017. He immediately impacted, winning his first six fights in the promotion, primarily at Featherweight and Bantamweight. Yadong's striking prowess is on full display in his fights, as he throws a diverse array of strikes with lightning speed and precision. His striking has earned him eight knockout victories in his career, including high-profile wins over Alejandro Pérez, Julio Arce, and Marlon Moraes. The 25-year-old is currently ranked eighth in the UFC bantamweight division. He lost his last fight against Cory Sandhagen in September 2022.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 25
- Height: 5’.8"
- Reach: 67"
- Record: 19-7-2 (1NC)
Ricky Simon
Ricky Simon is an American mixed martial artist who was a standout wrestler in high school, and his wrestling skills have proven to be a formidable weapon inside the Octagon. Simon made his UFC debut in 2018 and quickly established himself as a top contender in the Bantamweight division with his grappling skills. He has consistently dominated opponents with his takedowns and ground-and-pound, earning victories over notable fighters such as Merab Dvalishvili and Ray Borg. Before coming to UFC, Simon was the former Legacy Fighting Alliance Bantamweight Champion. The 30-year-old American with Mexican heritage is on a five-match winning streak. His last loss was in 2019 against Rob Font.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 5’.6"
- Reach: 69"
- Record: 20-3
Betting Odds
The oddsmakers can barely separate the fighters. Song Yadong is the slight underdog at 1.96 odds on 1XBET. Under 4.5 rounds is priced at 1.69 odds on Coinplay. Bet365 has the fight to go the distance at 2.55 odds.