Ricky Simon edged out Ray Borg by split decision tonight at UFC Fight Night 171 in Jacksonville.
Round One:
Simon with a left-right to start. Inside leg kick for Simon. Two left hooks in rapid succession from Simon, but then a nice counter punch from Borg.
Big punches from Simon rattles Borg’s head at close range. Simon then changes levels and lands a takedown nicely.
Borg working butterfly guard here and then scrambles to his feet. Simon hoists him off his feet, but Borg does well to keep his balance and stay upright. Simon pressing him up against the cage and then is able to get his feet out from under him and get the fight to the mat again.
Borg up fairly quickly though and soon after lands a nice uppercut. Leg kick from Borg, but Simon checks it. Borg rips some solid body shots and then tries to go upstairs.
Jab for Simon. Front kick from Simon. Now punches and they clinch up. Simon bringing Borg back down again. Borg able to work to his feet again, but Simon is clinched to his back. Borg tries to move back, but gets taken down again. Good work from Simon to end the round on top.
Round Two:
Exchange of punches at close range. Nice right hand from Borg. Body kick for Simon. One-two for Borg and then shooting in on a takedown, but doesn’t get it.
Now it’s Simon going for a takedown and hoists him up and gets Borg to the mat. Borg able to get back to his feet relatively quickly though.
Right hand for Borg. Right for Simon now. Jab lands for Borg. Spinning backfist for Borg. Now he lands a left.
One-two for Simon. Simon fakes a takedown attempt. Body strikes for Simon. left hand lands from Simon as Borg moves forward.
Simon goes for a takedown, but Borg stuffs it. Body punch for Simon. Now two right hands from Simon and a left behind it.
Simon goes for a takedown and then transitions to his back to complete it. Borg soon standing though with Simon still attached. Borg turns into him as Simon presses him against the cage.
Borg trying to roll out of this and as they stand back up he gets free. Nice punch for Borg. He lands again nicely as the round draws to a close.
Round Three:
One-two for Simon. Borg attempts a knee upstairs. kick for Simon. Jab for Borg. nice rip to the body from Borg. Now a jab.
Again Borg works to the body. Now the jab again. They both land a jab. Body punch for Simon. reaching left hook from Simon.
uppercut from Borg, but Simon changes levels and lands a takedown. He’s straight into side control here in the center of the Octagon.
Borg scrambles to his knees and then transitions on top. Now it’s Simon getting to his knees and stands, then gets a single leg and takes him down.
Borg back up, but Simon has the back clinch. Borg turns into him. Simon working another takedown against the cage, but nothing doing and he backs up.
Borg punches hard to the body. Head kick partially lands for Borg. Missed spinning backfist from Borg.
Simon tries for a single leg, but doesn’t get it this time. Double jab from Simon. Jumping knee attempt from Borg. Simon does one of his own. Solid right hand for Borg. He lands to the body and head.
Both men trading now, but it’s Borg whose getting the better of this to end the round and so we’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
Good competitive fight here and it goes a to a split decision verdict and it’s Ricky Simon who gets the win (29-28 x2, 28-29).
