Vancouver’s Ricky Simon earns fifth UFC victory

Union graduate records submission victory over Gaetano Pirrello

By Joshua Hart, Columbian sports reporter

Published: January 20, 2021, 3:35pm

Ricky Simón of Vancouver is pictured at Gracie Barra Portland on Jan. 24, 2019. (Alisha Jucevic/The Columbian)

Vancouver native and Union High grad Ricky Simon earned his fifth UFC win Wednesday morning with a submission victory over Gaetano Pirrello.

Using the double-leg takedowns he learned as a Union wrestler, Simon consistently took Pirrello to the ground before transitioning to a triangle arm choke late in the second round. It was just his second submission victory as a professional fighter.

“I’m a grappler. I’m going to start beating guys up on the ground and submitting them,” Simon said during his in-cage post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier.

Simon has two more fights on a four-fight deal with the UFC. He said he hopes to fight Brian Kelleher, who he has been scheduled to face twice before, next.