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UFC Seattle: Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer continues on the prelims with a fight between Ricky Simon and Adrian Yanez within the bantamweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Simon-Yanez prediction and pick.
Ricky Simon (22-7) appeared to have righted the ship after a three-fight skid, stopping Javid Basharat via first-round KO in February 2025 and following it up with a call win over Cameron Smotherman in June. But Simon stumbled again, dropping his most up-to-date outing to Raoni Barcelos in November 2025, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Adrian Yanez.
Adrian Yanez (17-6) looked to rebuild his stock when he stopped Vinicius Salvador via first-round TKO in May 2024, but momentum stalled when he dropped a split decision to Daniel Marcos in December 2024. The Texas bantamweight has now lost three of his last 4, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Ricky Simon.
UFC Seattle Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Seattle Odds: Ricky Simon-Adrian Yanez Odds
Ricky Simon: -155
Adrian Yanez: +130
Over 2.5 rounds: -210
Under 2.5 rounds: +160
Why Ricky Simon Will Win
Ricky Simon has some of the underrated grappling games within the UFC bantamweight division, and that might be the deciding factor Saturday night. Simon’s wrestling-heavy approach will give Yanez serious problems from the opening bell.
Yanez is a natural striker who thrives when the fight stays standing, but Simon has the takedown ability to neutralize that entirely. Once Simon gets the fight to the mat, Yanez has historically struggled to defend sustained ground pressure.
Simon’s chin and sturdiness also give him an edge in a division stuffed with knockout artists. Even when Yanez lands clean early, Simon has shown the power to soak up shots and keep pressing forward.
Simon’s submission game adds one other layer of danger that Yanez simply cannot ignore. A fighter who has to respect each the takedown and the choke is a fighter who’s mentally fighting on two fronts without delay.
At 22-7, Simon has faced elite competition and knows how you can grind out the rounds when needed. His pressure-based wrestling style is tailor-made to take advantage of Yanez’s defensive weaknesses, and expect him to make use of it relentlessly from start to complete Saturday in Seattle.
Why Adrian Yanez Will Win
Adrian Yanez possesses a few of the most explosive and accurate hands within the UFC bantamweight division, and if this fight stays standing, Simon is in serious danger. Yanez’s knockout power is legitimate at any point within the fight, and Simon has been finished before at this level.
Simon has shown vulnerability coming off a loss to Barcelos, and a fighter with Yanez’s striking speed can exploit hesitation and ring rust in an enormous way. Yanez consistently throws in mixtures and generates volume that makes it very difficult for opponents to search out their rhythm.
Yanez also has underrated takedown defense, which could neutralize Simon’s primary path to victory. If he can stuff Simon’s early attempts, the fight reverts to the standup game where Yanez holds a transparent and significant advantage.
Mentally, Yanez fights with an aggression and confidence that tends to place opponents on the back foot immediately. Simon is the form of fighter who needs to ascertain his wrestling early, and a pointy jab from Yanez can disrupt that game plan before it ever gets began.
At 17-6, Yanez has the experience and firepower to make an announcement Saturday night in Seattle, as he looks handy Simon his second straight defeat.
Final Ricky Simon-Adrian Yanez Prediction & Pick
It is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup that ought to deliver fireworks early, with each fighters having clear and distinct paths to victory. The important thing query is whether or not Simon can get the fight to the mat before Yanez’s hands do serious damage.
Expect Simon to shoot early and infrequently, using his wrestling to empty Yanez’s energy and chip away at his confidence. Yanez will look to time those shots with uppercuts and knees, which is where his biggest opportunity lies within the opening rounds.
The center rounds will likely tell the story, if Simon has established his grappling game, he should find a way to grind out a call. Nonetheless, if Yanez has successfully stuffed takedowns and kept it standing, his ending ability makes him dangerous at any moment.
Ultimately, Simon’s relentless pressure and superior grappling give him the slight edge in what must be a competitive bantamweight contest. His ability to impose his will on opponents over quarter-hour is the difference-maker here.
Final Ricky Simon-Adrian Yanez Prediction & Pick: Ricky Simon (-155), Over 2.5 Rounds (-210)
UFC Seattle: Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer continues on the prelims with a fight between Ricky Simon and Adrian Yanez within the bantamweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Simon-Yanez prediction and pick.