Ricky Simon was able to get the better of Brian Kelleher from start to finish in their main card fight at UFC 258 tonight on his way to a clean sweep on the judges scorecards.
Round One:
Kelleher with a leg kick. He’s looking for punches, but Simon swoops in and gets an early takedown in the middle of the Octagon.
Kelleher trying to scramble out here and makes his way to the cage, but Simon is still on him and surprisingly Kelleher is bleeding from a cut to his eyebrow. It turns out it’s from an elbow strike.
Kelleher gets to his feet. He’s wiping at that cut. Simon able to land another takedown and gets to half-guard. Kelleher trying to work a kimura, but Simon wise to it.
Kelleher able to get back to his feet and now they are working from striking range. Leg kick for Kelleher. Simon lands another good takedown in the center of the Octagon.
Simon trying to work an arm triangle from half guard as he applies heavy shoulder pressure. Kelleher does well to stand, but still bothered by the blood to his right eye.
Simon hoping for another takedown, but will have to keep it standing for now. They exchange leg kicks. Both men throwing hands as the round ends.
Round Two:
Simon with a nice body punch. Now a right hook. A flush jab lands too. Front kick to the face from Kelleher, but Simon eats it.
Hard inside leg kick for Simon. Kelleher with a kick of his own. Right hand from Simon. A left partially gets through.
Front kick to the body now for Kelleher. Head kick attempt from him, but nothing doing. Again Kelleher blasts a front kick to the face and again Simon eats it and lands a takedown.
Kelleher quickly back up though. Outside leg kick for Kelleher. Spinning backfist from Simon is blocked.
Right hook for Simon. Jabs for Kelleher. Now an outside leg kick and a left hand. Flurry of punches and a leg kick for Simon.
Another leg kick for Simon. He drives into a takedown and gets it. Kelleher was trying for a guillotine, but isn’t able to lock it up.
Kelleher to one knee against the cage as he looks to stand back up. Knees to the thigh from Simon from this position and then Kelleher does get back to his feet.
Simon presses him up against the cage. He attempts a spinning backfist, but it doesn’t land.
Solid right hand for Simon in close. He attempts a jumping knee that misses. Solid front kick to the midsection from Kelleher at the end of the round that landed a little low.
Round Three:
jab for Simon. Inside leg kick for him. Head kick attempt is blocked and then Kelleher tries to return the favor and also misses.
Stepping elbow from Simon. Now a combination of punches and a leg kick behind it. Simon closes the distance and clinches up, moving around towards Kelleher’s back. Kelleher turns into him and then reverses the clinch against the cage. Simon does the same to him.
Simon goes for a double-leg and gets it. He’s in half-guard as Kelleher tries for a kimura. Now it’s Simon who attacks with a kimura. Kelleher gets to his knees and then stands back up.
Simon staying tight in the clinch here. He has Kelleher’s back now and he goes down to one knee. Simon landing knees to the backside. Kelleher stands again, but can’t get Simon off him.
Kelleher with a knee. he backs away and Simon attempts a spinning backfist that doesn’t connect. Kelleher attempts a spinning backfist of his own that doesn’t find the mark. Front kick upstairs from Kelleher as the round draws to a close.
Decision:
Tireless work from Simon here then, landing good takedowns, enjoying spells of top control and also operating a stifling clinch game on his way to a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x3).
