Batters Simon with a savage attack for a late TKO win

Song Yadong and Ricky Simon clashed in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 72 main event. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

By Ed Emeanua

Bombardment of blows was all it took for Chinese fighter Song Yadong to halt his American bantamweight challenger, Ricky Simon, via a round five TKO on Saturday, giving him a UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas win.

With an initial left hook, the winner effectively rubberized the opponent’s knees, forcing him to the mat; Yadong (20-7-1) then pounced on the prey, flooding him with punches. Simon (20-4-0) tried to reach his feet, but a right hook to his jaw convinced him otherwise at exactly 1:10 of the final round.

The on the rise 25-year-old China bomber thus earned his fourth win from his last five UFC challenges. In doing so, he could plant 110 punches, which 105 were devastating. On the hand, Simon scored 64 hits, of which 60 were rated as power punches.

Equally on the victor’s podium for Saturday’s UFC date in Las Vegas were Brazilians Caio Borralho (14-1-0), Rodolfo Vieira (9-2-0), and Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1). Julian Erosa (28-12-0) and Josh Quinlan (6-1-0) from the United States also carried the day in their frays.

“I’m so happy; I’m extremely happy tonight,” Song said after the fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Ricky is a very tough opponent, and tonight is my night. Next, I want to fight a top-five fighter!”