Merab Dvalishvili vs Ricky Simon — Fight recap

Ricky Simon submitted Merab Dvalishvili via submission in round three at 5:00 on April 21, 2018. Despite landing 61 significant strikes on 29% accuracy and securing six takedowns, Dvalishvili couldn't maintain his wrestling advantage as Simon weathered the pressure.

Simon's defensive wrestling proved effective, stuffing 5 of 7 takedown attempts while matching Dvalishvili's control time at roughly 2:45 apiece. The striking volume favored Dvalishvili, but Simon's 33% accuracy on 34 significant strikes kept him competitive in exchanges.

Simon's submission finish at the fight's conclusion demonstrated his submission threat remained a constant factor despite being outgrappled for much of the bout. The loss marked a setback for Dvalishvili's momentum at bantamweight.