UFC Vegas 72 results and recap: Song delivers magnificent TKO victory over Simon

Las Vegas, April 30: Song Yadong delivered a magnificent stoppage win over Ricky Simon in the main event of UFC Vegas 72: Song vs. Simon at the UFC Apex Facility in Las Vegas on Saturday (April 29).

The 11-fight card saw six fights end in stoppages and five go the distance. Among the six stoppage wins, two were technical knockouts, including the headliner of the show as the Octagon action continued at the Apex.

Bantamweight rankers No. 8 ranked Song and No. 10 ranked Simon knew there was a lot on the line, and played a very calculated first round in the main event. The pair then ramped up engagement through the remaining rounds.

The fight progressed with Song showing his striking acumen and excellent timing, and Simon implementing his shoots. Song knocked down Simon at the end of the fourth round, and finished him in the fifth with incredible power.

After the TKO victory, Song said, "I'm so happy, I'm extremely happy tonight! Ricky is a very tough opponent but tonight is my night. Next, I want to fight a top five fighter! Sean O'Malley! Or Chito Vera, you want a rematch?"

In the co-main event, surging middleweights Caio Borralho and Michal Oleksiejczuk came out with expected all-action performances. Oleksiejczuk put on the pressure, forcing Borralho to defend and get creative.

Borralho went right to his Brazilian jiujitsu in the second round, and worked his way to a rear naked choke submission victory. After the win, Borralho revealed how he capitalized on his opponent getting tired.

"I knew he was coming very hard. But my corner said 'He's tired' and that's when I got him. Did you like my performance? My double leg (takedown) is the best in UFC! I have the best team in the world - the fighting nerds. This is the fighting nerds takeover!" Borralho said.

The main event and co-main event winners - Song and Borralho - were awarded performance of the night bonuses along with Rodolfo Vieira and Marcus McGhee, who also secured stoppage wins on the under card.

Also on the main card, Vieira submitted Cody Brundage for a stoppage in the second round of a middleweight bout after Fernando Padilla finished Julian Erosa in the first round of a featherweight bout. In the main card opener, Marcos Rogerio de Lima defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta via decision.

UFC Vegas 72 Results

Main Card

1. Bantamweight Bout: Song Yadong defeated Ricky Simon by TKO (strikes) at 1:10 of Round 5

2. Middleweight Bout: Caio Borralho defeated Michal Oleksiejczuk by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:49 of Round 2

3. Middleweight Bout: Rodolfo Vieira defeated Cody Brundage by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:28 of Round 2

4. Featherweight Bout: Fernando Padilla defeated Julian Erosa by TKO (strikes) at 1:41 of Round 1

5. Heavyweight Bout: Marcos Rogerio de Lima defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

1. Welterweight Bout: Trey Waters defeated Josh Quinlan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

2. Heavyweight Bout: Martin Buday defeated Jake Collier by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

3. Flyweight Bout: Cody Durden defeated Charles Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

4. Women's Bantamweight Bout: Irina Alekseeva defeated Stephanie Egger by submission (kneebar) at 2:11 of Round 1

5. Catchweight (140 lbs) Bout: Marcus McGhee defeated Journey Newson by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:03 of Round 2

6. Women's Bantamweight Bout: Jamey-Lyn Horth defeated Hailey Cowan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)