Merab Dvalishvili was left without an opponent at UFC Fight Night Atlantic City after Augusto Mendes was notified of a potential USADA violation, but now the Top Turtle MMA Podcast is reporting that Ricky Simon has agreed to fight Dvalishvili on short notice.
Dvalishvili (7-3-0) is currently winless thus far in UFC competition, dropping a bout to Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night Fresno. Dvalishvili has seen eight of his ten professional MMA bouts make it to the third round and seven of those contests went the distance. Dvalishvili owns a fifteen second spinning back fist victory over Raufeon Stots, who is the current Victory Fighting Championships Bantamweight Champion.
Simon (12-1-0) debuts in the UFC on a five fight winning streak and he hasn’t suffered a defeat in over two years. Simon won the LFA Bantamweight Title by defeating UFC veteran Chico Camus at LFA 29 and defended it once before allegedly signing with the UFC. Simon also competed on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series Episode 5, defeating Donovan Frelow by split decision.
UFC Fight Night Atlantic City takes place on Saturday, April 21 from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey with Edson Barboza and Kevin Lee headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox Sports 1.
