UFC Vegas 72 boasts a promising bantamweight battle between Song Yadong and Ricky Simon. After the unfortunate cancellation of the Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano headliner, Song and Simon – both ranked in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings – have gained the spotlight for Saturday’s main event.

For these contenders, this is an unprecedented chance to prove their worth and put their names higher up in the pecking order of the crowded bantamweight division. While Song Yadong fought against Cory Sandhagen in an attempt to break into the top 10, he only left with bruises on his body.

However, if he manages to defeat the streaking Simon, who has won his last five fights, he would find a path towards getting lined up against well-known fighters. In this fight, Simon has the chance to demonstrate that his victories are not merely a series of good performances, but proofs of his ability to one day compete for a world title.

Other notable fights of the main card are face-offs involving Caio Borralho, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Rodolfo Vieira, Cody Brundage, Julian Erosa, Fernando Padilla, Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Josh Quinlan, and Trey Waters.

The preliminary card, meanwhile, will showcase battles between Martin Buday and Jake Collier, Cody Durden and Charles Johnson, Stephanie Egger and Irina Alekseeva, Journey Newson and Marcus McGhee, and Hailey Cowan and Jamey-Lyn Horth.