RICKY SIMON VS. RAY BORG
The action shifts to the bantamweight division for this compelling clash between two former prospects still just reaching the start of their athletic primes who are looking to build some momentum in 2020.
Simon did everything right after earning a split decision victory on the Contender Series but failing to come away with a contract. He went right back out, beat a UFC veteran and successfully defended his LFA bantamweight title to earn a call to the Octagon. From there, the Vancouver, Washington native posted three straight victories to push his record to 15-1 and land a bout with the returning Urijah Faber.
Unfortunately for Simon, “The California Kid” came out firing and clipped him with a right hand less than a minute into their co-main event showdown in Sacramento, ending his winning streak, and while he picked up Fight of the Night honors in his bout with Rob Font back in December, he once again landed on the wrong side of the results.
While Simon enters on a two-fight slide, Borg has actually won each of his last two appearances, but an old adversary raised its head last time out, as he missed weight for the fourth time in his UFC tenure, prompting this move to bantamweight.
Truthfully, his frequent struggles on the scale is the only real thing you can knock the 26-year-old Borg for over the course of his 11-fight run in the UFC. He’s gone 7-4, including a win over Jussier Formiga, and he fought for the flyweight title, which is a pretty solid resume for someone who debuted in the Octagon with a short-notice, split decision loss to Dustin Ortiz two weeks after winning a fight on the regional circuit and four months shy of turning 21.
Both of these fighters were considered elite prospects before arriving in the UFC and still have plenty of time to find a rhythm and blossom into Top 15 fixtures in the future, but only one of them will get to start that journey on Wednesday night.
