Expert prediction
UFC Vegas 84: Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Jan 13)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista is a duel between two BJJ experts who tend to land a lot of strikes.
- This is going to be the first time that Mario Bautista is fighting a ranked opponent.
- Ricky Simon is determined to bounce back to the winning track after a TKO loss to Song Yadong.
The main card of UFC Vegas 84 brings us many interesting matchups, including Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista.
These two bantamweights are well-rounded fighters with a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, each landing a huge volume of strikes in every fight.
Knowing this, it’s clear that Simon vs. Bautista is going to be a real banger. But who’s going to win? Let’s find out!
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, January 13, 2023, at 9:00 p.m. ET
- Where: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ricky Simon | |
| Mario Bautista |
Fight Preview
Ricky Simon and Mario Bautista are two very similar fighters, which explains why their UFC Vegas 84 odds aren’t miles apart. Simon is the favorite, probably because he’s got more experience.
He’s 20-4 overall, with an 8-2 record in the UFC. Meanwhile, Bautista’s overall record is 13-2, while he’s got a 7-2 record since joining Dana White’s promotion.
READ ALSO: UFC Vegas 84: Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Jan 13)
Bautista’s been doing alright lately, with five wins in a row. However, all of those wins happened against unranked fighters.
In fact, the fight at UFC Vegas 84 will be the first time he’s fighting a ranked opponent. He did fight Cory Sandhagen in 2019, but back then, “The Sandman” was ranked outside the top 15 in the 135lb division.
Bautista’s next opponent, Ricky Simon, is No. 13 in the UFC Bantamweight Rankings, which is where he got by putting on some really impressive performances, such as the one against Jack Shore which won him the Performance of the Night bonus.
Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista Prediction
In his most recent fight, Simon lost to Song Yadong by a TKO in the fifth round. “Kung Fu Kid” just destroyed him with punches and kicks, but Simon did make two takedowns in that fight.
He’ll probably try to do the same against Bautista, and this time, we think it’s going to work. We think he’s going to beat him by submission.
Free Pick:
MMA
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