Las Vegas, NV — After skipping out on Christmas dinner while training for UFC Vegas 84, bantamweight Ricky Simon is ready to bounce back from a tough loss last time out.
Simon (20-4), who faces Mario Bautista at the first UFC event of 2024, fell to Song Yadong in April 2023, then had to endure a lengthy non-injury layoff after the fact. He addressed bouncing back from the loss, in terms of his mental fortitude, at Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 84 media day, with Cageside Press on hand.
“This isn’t my first setback, I’ve been a professional fighter for a decade now. I’m so mentally strong, I’m confident, my confidence comes from my training and my team around me,” stated Simon. “So I feel like if you put in the work, it’s hard to sway that confidence so I’m feeling rejuvenated, revived and I’m ready to go. I’m ready to prove a point this weekend.”
While Simon admits he would have preferred a ranked opponent — Simon himself is #13 in the 135lb division — he does appreciate he’s in for a tough fight.
“Mario’s a tough fighter, he’s on a five-fight win streak, and I kind of had an inkling that they would try to push him into the rankings at this point after winning five in a row. So I kind of suspected this fight, but at the same time I was hoping for a little bit more of a ranked opponent. But I’m going to go do my business this weekend, and I’m going to show I’m one of the best in the world and I’ll be right back there.”
In terms of how Ricky Simon sees the fight playing out, one thing is certain: Simon knows it’s going to be exciting.
“Ideally I’d like to go out there and starch him right away and go out and have some Tequilas, but MMA is the toughest sport in the world and he’s a tough fighter,” said Simon. “We’re both very exciting, fast-paced fighters and I’m expecting to put on a dominant fight, but probably a fan-favorite fight for sure.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 84 media day appearance by Ricky Simon above.
