UFC Vegas 72: Song vs Simon Predictions, Odds, Picks
Song Yadong vs Ricky Simon - Bantamweight Division
Originally slated to take place one week ago, number-eight-ranked bantamweight Song Yadong will take on the number-ten-ranked Ricky Simon in this weekend’s main event.
At just 25 years old, Song Yadong has already competed in 28 professional mixed martial arts bouts. He rode a three-fight winning streak into his most recent fight against Cory sandhagen who, unfortunately for Yadong, defeated him via fourth-round TKO (due to a doctor’s stoppage involving a cut above the eye).
On the opposite side of the cage from Yadong will be Ricky Simon - a fighter who is looking to capture his sixth win in a row.
Simon has won five straight and has won his last two via second-round stoppage: a knockout of Raphael Assuncao and, most recently, a submission over Jack Shore.
In what will appear to be a trend, one fighter will stand taller while the other will enjoy the reach advantage. Yadong is the taller man but Simon will have a two-inch reach advantage.
To find out how to place your bets for this featured bantamweight main event, check out our ultimate UFC betting guide to get started.
Caio Borralho vs Michal Oleksiejczuk - Middleweight Division
After back-to-back wins on the Contender Series in 2021, Caio Borralho signed with the UFC and is now 3-0 with the promotion.
He defeated Makhmud Muradov by decision in his most recent bout last October and has not been defeated in a mixed martial arts contest since his second professional bout back in 2015.
Michal Oleksiejczuk has won his last two fights in a row - both by first-round stoppage. He earned a TKO over Sam Alvey last August and, most recently, defeated Cody Brundage by knockout last December.
Holding black belts in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu as well as muay thai, Borralho will also look to employ his one-inch advantage in both reach and height this Saturday. He is listed as a -300 favorite - the biggest betting favorite on the main card.
Rodolfo Vieira vs Cody Brundage - Middleweight Division
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rodolfo Vieira is now 3-2 in the UFC and will enter the octagon this Saturday hoping to rebound from his most recent unanimous decision loss to Chris Curtis that took place last June.
Cody Brundage is also hoping to recover from a recent loss. He last fought co-main event fighter Michal Oleksiejczuk last December, suffering a first-round defeat by knockout.
Brundage will stand one inch taller than Vieira but will be at a one-inch disadvantage in reach. His BJJ blue belt also doesn’t quite stack up to Vieira’s own grappling credentials and because of this Brundage will enter the cage this Saturday as a +225 underdog.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta - Heavyweight Division
Brazilian fighter Marcos Rogerio de Lima is 3-1 over his last four contests and is coming off a first-round submission win over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrea Arlovski. That win came last October and this will be de Lima’s first fight of 2023.
He takes on undefeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta - a fighter who has won both of his UFC bouts thus far by way of unanimous decision. He last defeated Chase Sherman last November.
Marcos rogerio de Lima will look to utilize his BJJ black belt and grappling skills and attempt to negate Cortes-Acosta’s advantages in both height and reach.
Joshua Quinlan vs Ange Loosa - Welterweight Division
The undefeated Josh Quinlan made his UFC debut last August and made a statement by knocking out Jason Witt in the first-round.
His opponent, Ange Loosa, is 1-1 under the UFC banner and is coming off of a unanimous decision win over A.J. Fletcher last Summer.
Despite standing two inches taller than Loosa, Josh Quinlan will be at a two-inch reach disadvantage this Saturday night. Although undefeated, Quinlan is listed as a +120 underdog.
