Montel Jackson stopped Ricky Simon with a second-round knockout on the prelims at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The win snapped a two-fight skid of split decision losses to Deiveson Figueiredo and Raoni Barcelos and was his first finish in more than two years. It also avenged a decision loss to Simon in Jackson's short-notice UFC debut more than eight years ago.
Montel Jackson got his hand raised in emphatic fashion at UFC Fight Night 289, knocking out Ricky Simon in the second round of a preliminary bout at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The result ended a rough stretch for Jackson and closed a chapter that began more than eight years ago.
Jackson, a 34-year-old southpaw from the United States who trains at Red Schafer MMA, now stands at 16-4. He had dropped back-to-back split decisions to Deiveson Figueiredo and Raoni Barcelos, and the stoppage was his first finish in more than two years. Known as "Quik," he brings a clear physical edge to most bantamweight fights, standing five-foot-ten with a 75-inch reach. He lands 3.02 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy.
Simon, also 34, falls to 22-8-1. The Orthodox fighter from American Top Team Portland is one of the shorter men in the division at five-foot-six, with a 69-inch reach. His game has long been built around wrestling, and he averages 4.49 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. He lands 3.03 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy.
A long-awaited rematch
The fight carried extra weight for Jackson because of its history. Simon beat him by decision when Jackson made his UFC debut on short notice more than eight years ago. This time, Jackson found the finish instead of leaving the outcome to the judges.
Why it matters
- Jackson snaps a two-fight losing streak, both defeats by split decision, and gets back into the win column with a knockout.
- The finish is his first in over two years, a reminder of the power he can bring despite a modest striking output on paper.
- The result avenges a loss that dates to the start of his UFC run.
- Simon, despite his takedown-heavy approach, was unable to impose his wrestling before the stoppage in round two.
For Jackson, the win offers a reset in a crowded bantamweight division. For Simon, it is another setback for a veteran who has spent years as a tough out for the fighters around him.
