Simon vs Bautista

Who won Simon vs Bautista?

Mario Bautista beat Ricky Simon by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest during the main card of UFC Fight Night, on Saturday 13th January 2024 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The scorecards were announced as 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in favor of the winner Mario Bautista.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which meant the weight limit was 135 pounds (9.6 stone or 61.2 KG).

Simon vs Bautista stats

Ricky Simon stepped into the octagon with a record of 20 wins, 4 losses and 0 draws, 6 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 4 by submission.

Mario Bautista made his way to the cage with a record of 13 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws, 3 of those wins coming by knock out and 6 by submission.

This was Ricky Simon's 13th fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2018. Mario Bautista marked his 11th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2019.

Ricky Simon's UFC record stood at 8-5-0, while Mario Bautista's came in at 9-2-0.

The stats suggested Simon had a slight advantage in power over Bautista, with a 30% knock out percentage over Bautista's 23%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Bautista had a large advantage over Simon, boasting a 46% submission rate over Simon's 20%.

Ricky Simon was the older man by 1 year, at 32 years old.

Bautista had a height advantage of 3 inches over Simon. Despite this, he had a 1-inch reach advantage.

Simon was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 9 more fights, and made his debut in 2014, 3 years and 4 months earlier than Bautista, whose first professional fight was in 2017. He had fought 30 more professional rounds, 64 to Bautista's 34.

Simon vs Bautista form

Simon had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going to the judges 3 times.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Yadong Song at UFC Fight Night – Song vs. Simon on 29th April 2023 by knockout in the 5th round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had won against Jack Shore at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. Rodriguez on 16th July 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at UBS Arena, Long Island, New York.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Raphael Assuncao at UFC Fight Night on 18th December 2021 by knockout in the 2nd round.

Before that, he had defeated Brian Kelleher at UFC 258 on 13th February 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.

He was victorious against Ray Borg at UFC Fight Night Jacksonville on 13th May 2020 by split decision in their 3 round contest at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville.

Mario Bautista had beaten 5 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Da’Mon Blackshear at UFC 292 on 19th August 2023 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at TD Garden, Boston, United States.

Previous to that, he had beaten Guido Cannetti at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili on 11th March 2023 by submission in the 1st round at The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Benito Lopez at UFC Fight Night: Mitchell vs. Evloev on 5th November 2022 by submission in the 1st round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

Before that, he was victorious against Brian Kelleher at UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot on 25th June 2022 by submission in the 1st round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had won against Jay Perrin at UFC Fight Night on 19th February 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Mario Bautista had been fighting more than Ricky Simon.

Going to this contest, Ricky Simon had last fought 1 year, 7 months and 4 days ago, while Mario Bautista's last outing had been 1 year, 3 months and 14 days ago.

Simon's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 6 months and 20 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 10 months and 29 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 15 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3 rounds on average.

Bautista's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 9 months and 14 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 6 months and 22 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 9 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 1.8 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Simon vs Bautista?

Ricky Simon was a 51/100 (-200) favourite going into the contest, while Mario Bautista made his way into the ring at 8/5 (+160) with oddsmakers.