Ricky Simon vs Raoni Barcelos Prediction: Riky Simon ready to take the battle the distance

Ricky Simon vs Raoni Barcelos: Prediction and odds on the Match on 09 November, 2025

The bantamweight fight between Ricky Simon and Raoni Barcelos is still going on at UFC Vegas 111. Simon has a record of 22-6 and brings energy and experience to the cage. He is 33 years old, 5’6″ tall, and weighs 135 pounds. He has a good range for an orthodox fighter because his reach is 69 inches. Barcelos, who is 5’7″ tall and weighs 135 pounds, is in front of him. The Brazilian veteran has a record of 20 wins and 5 losses and fights from the same position. The two skilled fighters are very evenly matched, so the real question is who will win on fight night?

Claim Your Welcome Bonus!

Ricky Simon recent form

Ricky Simon recent form

Ricky Simon has a record of 22 wins and 6 losses and is well-known as one of the best bantamweight wrestlers. A lot of people thought he would be a champion one day, and while that hasn’t happened yet, he’s still a dangerous fighter who usually only loses to the best. He even got a controversial submission win over Merab Dvalishvili, who is often called the best in the division, early in his career. Simon is a strong mix of boxing and wrestling. He gets 5.01 takedowns every 15 minutes, landing 43% of them, and stops 75% of the takedowns that come his way. He doesn’t go after submissions very often—only 0.3 every 15 minutes—but his control and pressure wear down his opponents. Barcelos is even better at defending takedowns across the cage, blocking 85% of attempts and completing 33% of his own. He also goes after submissions a little more aggressively, getting an average of 0.6 every 15 minutes. Simon is on a two-fight win streak, with a knockout-of-the-year contender against Javid Basharat and a clean decision win over Cameron Smotherman. He is hard to beat because he has a lot of grit, power, and speed.

Ricky Simon Strength

Ricky Simon’s last fight was against Cameron Smotherman, and he won by a clear unanimous decision after three rounds. Simon hit 50 of 94 strikes in that fight, and 34 of 74 significant shots, giving him a 45% success rate. Twenty-two of those were aimed at the head, and all of them hit. Smotherman, on the other hand, only hit 29% of his significant strikes, hitting 33 out of 104 total strikes. Simon did a great job of keeping his distance and defending himself because 23 of the 89 head shots he threw missed. Simon won because of his wrestling, which is often the case. He kept the pressure on and set the pace. But that job gets harder when you have to do it against Raoni Barcelos. Barcelos has one of the best takedown defenses in the division, with an 85% success rate. He could keep the fight standing with his quick scrambles and sharp timing, making it a battle of speed and accuracy instead of control and pressure.

Ricky Simon Strength

Ricky Simon’s last fight was against Cameron Smotherman, and he won by a clear unanimous decision after three rounds. Simon hit 50 of 94 strikes in that fight, and 34 of 74 significant shots, giving him a 45% success rate. Twenty-two of those were aimed at the head, and all of them hit. Smotherman, on the other hand, only hit 29% of his significant strikes, hitting 33 out of 104 total strikes. Simon did a great job of keeping his distance and defending himself because 23 of the 89 head shots he threw missed. Simon won because of his wrestling, which is often the case. He kept the pressure on and set the pace. But that job gets harder when you have to do it against Raoni Barcelos. Barcelos has one of the best takedown defenses in the division, with an 85% success rate. He could keep the fight standing with his quick scrambles and sharp timing, making it a battle of speed and accuracy instead of control and pressure.

Raoni Barcelos recent form

Raoni Barcelos recent form

Raoni Barcelos (20-5) is very confident going into UFC Vegas 111 after beating Cody Garbrandt at UFC Atlanta. That win ended a three-fight losing streak and showed fans how tough and skilled he is. Before that, he earned decision wins over Payton Talbott and a late submission against Cristian Quinonez, proving he still has plenty left in the tank. In his bout with Garbrandt, Barcelos fought smart and efficient. He hit 43 out of 93 strikes and 37 out of 85 significant ones, which is a success rate of 43%. 31 of his 75 power shots hit the head. Garbrandt had his moments too, landing 45 of 111 total strikes and 28 of 94 significant ones, but Barcelos was able to control the exchanges better by timing them better. Barcelos hit 89% of his significant strikes from a distance, while Garbrandt hit 78%. The Brazilian did a clean, calm job that showed his experience and set the tone for his next fight against Ricky Simon.

Raoni Barcelos Strength

Raoni Barcelos is a great counter-wrestler and has sharp striking. He will fight Ricky Simon at UFC Vegas 111. He hits more than five significant strikes every minute and loves to break the rhythm with clean boxing, steady leg kicks, and smooth combinations. Timing and control are the most important things about his style. He is very accurate, as shown by his 52% striking accuracy. Every punch comes naturally. He is dangerous when he exchanges blows because his hands are quick and he is balanced, especially when his opponents try to change levels. His speed may not be what it used to be at 38, but his experience makes up for it. He proved that he can still hit hard enough to change the course of a fight in seconds when he beat Cody Garbrandt recently.

Raoni Barcelos Strength

Raoni Barcelos is a great counter-wrestler and has sharp striking. He will fight Ricky Simon at UFC Vegas 111. He hits more than five significant strikes every minute and loves to break the rhythm with clean boxing, steady leg kicks, and smooth combinations. Timing and control are the most important things about his style. He is very accurate, as shown by his 52% striking accuracy. Every punch comes naturally. He is dangerous when he exchanges blows because his hands are quick and he is balanced, especially when his opponents try to change levels. His speed may not be what it used to be at 38, but his experience makes up for it. He proved that he can still hit hard enough to change the course of a fight in seconds when he beat Cody Garbrandt recently.

Ricky Simon vs Raoni Barcelos Betting Insights, Tips & Odds

• Barcelos will want the opposite. He’ll try to keep the fight standing and use clean counters and quick footwork to annoy Simon. He could win the first few rounds if he controls the range early and times Simon’s entries.
• Even so, Simon’s speed is hard to match. As the fight goes on, his cardio and control could wear Barcelos down more and more. But Barcelos is tough, smart, and knows how to handle pressure. The Brazilian can use knees, uppercuts, or quick counters to change the tone of the fight if Simon rushes in.

Ricky Simon vs Raoni Barcelos Prediction

Ricky Simon is coming into UFC Vegas 111 looking to bounce back after one of the weirdest knockouts of 2025. His biggest struggles often come when he can’t lean on his wrestling, and this matchup could test that again. On the other hand, Raoni Barcelos’s career has taken a turn for the better. He just beat Cody Garbrandt and Payton Talbott, which shows that he is sharp and confident. Talbott is now fighting Cejudo at UFC 323, which is a big deal, but Barcelos is fighting Simon inside the Apex this weekend, which is a tougher fight for the veteran. This fight is a classic example of two styles clashing. Chain wrestling and putting constant pressure on Simon are the best ways for him to get ahead. He’ll try to wear Barcelos down with clinches, takedowns, and control, but he won’t get into long exchanges of strikes. His fast pace has beaten a lot of opponents before. Barcelos has a lot of momentum after two big wins, and he will try to use that confidence to stay calm and choose his moments. Expect him to start off quickly and sharply. But if the fight goes on for a long time, Simon’s strength and determination might turn the tide in his favor.

Our first prediction is Ricky Simon by Decision/Technical Decision – 2.25 odds for 1xbet

Our Second Prediction is +3.5 Spread Raoni Barcelos – 1.61 odds for Bet365

Lastly, Ricky Simon to win – 1.60 odds for Betway