Vancouver’s Ricky Simon dazzles with upset win over Jack Shore at UFC Long Island, calls for fight with ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley

Ricky Simon reacts after his submission victory over Jack Shore of Wales in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UBS Arena on July 16, 2022 in Belmont, New York. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty)
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Vancouver’s own Ricky Simon (20-3-0) may have finally shown the fight world he is worthy of the top billing he’s been demanding from the world’s most prominant mixed martial arts league.

The Washington native dazzled in a bantamweight showdown at UFC Long Island on Saturday with a sparkling performance against Jack Shore (16-1-0). Simon singlehandedly derailed the meteoric rise of the previously undefeated Welshman with a hard right-hand shot to the face that wobbled Shore, then sent him tumbling to the canvas. That’s when Simon, 29, pounced with a flurry of punches followed by an arm triangle submission that forced a tapout at the 3:28 mark in Round 2 to secure the win with what has become his signature move.

The victory dashed the high hopes for Shore held by fight fans in the United Kingdom who are surely mourning the loss suffered by their rising star. Where the former boxer’s fight career goes from here is anyone’s best guess, but he was outclassed by Simon. His next fight will be important in deciding whether his previously undefeated record was as impressive as it looked on paper.

For Simon, the future becomes much more intriguing. The Union High School alum may finally get the respect he feels is due from the UFC as a contender in the bantamweight division, and is now calling out another one of the UFC’s brightest personalities in “Sugar” Sean O’Malley.

“O’Malley! The ‘Sugar Show’ is over,” Simon screamed into the microphone during his post fight interview. “I’m the sweetest thing in the bantamweight division.”

Was UFC Commissioner Dana White listening?

He should be.

Simon has now won his last five fights in convincing fashion, giving him the fifth-longest active win streak in the bantamweight division and earning himself respect from current champion Aljamain Sterling who was in attendance for Simon’s impressive victory.

“BIG WIN for “Rocky” Simon!” Sterling tweeted following the fight. “Beats a gritty, tough, and undefeated Jack Shore.”

The early enthusiasm for Simon looks like it has returned following a brief hiatus. He was one of the hottest names in the UFC and became a fan-favorite due to the wild mullet haircut he sported during a streak of eight-straight wins before hitting a wall in the form of two-straight losses to top competitors. Those came in the form of a unanimous decision that went to the currently No. 7 ranked bantamweight, Rob Font, followed by a crushing first-round knockout at the hands of an accomplished veteran in Urijah Faber.

Since then, Simon has bounced back in a big way. Ranked No. 13 coming into today’s matchup, it’s unclear whether Simon’s thrilling victory will propel him to a Top 10 spot in the updated UFC Rankings. What is clear, however, is that the pride of Vancouver is more than deserving of an opportunity to face a fighter in that range.

Tim Brown, The Oregonian/OregonLive | @timfsbrown

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