Ricky Simon vs Mario Bautista Prediction: A test of quality

Ricky Simon is set to face Mario Bautista at UFC Vegas 84 on Sunday, January 14, 2024. Ricky Simon suffered a defeat in his previous match, whereas Mario Bautista is currently on a winning streak.

In his most recent Octagon appearance, Ricky Simon faced Song Yadong and suffered a defeat in the fifth round due to a head punch. Yadong managed to land 110 of 234 total strikes during the bout, while Simon connected with 64 of 144 total strikes. In the significant strikes category, Yadong landed 105 of 228, achieving a 46% success rate, with 55 of those significant strikes targeting the head. Ricky Simon, on the other hand, statistically landed 43% of his significant strikes, connecting on 60 of 139. Specifically focusing on head strikes, Simon was 48 of 127 in terms of accuracy. Notably, 80% of Yadong's significant strikes and 95% of Ricky Simon's were registered at a distance during the fight.

In Mario Bautista's recent bout against Da'Mon Blackshear, he secured a victory via unanimous decision in the third round. Da'Mon Blackshear demonstrated a 57% accuracy in significant strikes attempted at a distance, while Mario Bautista exhibited an even higher accuracy of 64% in his attempts from a distance. Bautista successfully landed 79 of 137 significant strikes, with 48 of those strikes targeted at the head.

On the other side, Da'Mon Blackshear connected with 90 of 174 significant strikes in the fight, and 48 of those strikes were aimed at the head. When considering total strikes thrown, Blackshear landed 108 of 192, while Mario Bautista connected with 102 of 161 total strikes throughout the contest.

This promises to be an exciting fight, with both fighters currently performing at their peak. Ricky Simon is entering the match following a recent loss on the ground, and it will be intriguing to witness his improvements leading up to this bout. If he can enhance his striking skills to match his grappling, he could prove to be a formidable opponent that's difficult to thwart. On the other side, Mario Bautista boasts a respectable takedown defense, and it's evident he has been honing his grappling skills in preparation for this matchup. It's unlikely that he'll be content to remain on his back for an extended period, making it plausible for him to control the fight at striking range and gradually dismantle Ricky Simon. Despite Simon's potential evolution, Bautista appears to be in excellent form presently, making it difficult for me to envision him losing in this bout.