Ricky Simón and Raoni Barcelos will meet on the principle card of UFC Vegas 111 on November 8, 2025, on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The bantamweight bout presents a stylistic matchup between two veteran 135-pound opponents seeking to climb the divisional rankings.
UFC Vegas 111 Betting Preview: Ricky Simón vs. Raoni Barcelos
Simón enters the competition because the betting favourite throughout most sportsbooks. Some websites checklist the American combined martial artist at -155, making him a reasonable favourite, whereas Barcelos sits at +130 on the underdog facet. Line motion has remained comparatively secure heading into struggle week, with Simón’s odds fluctuating between -155 and -180 throughout varied books, whereas Barcelos has ranged from +125 to +150. The implied chance with out the vigorish favors Simón at 58.3 p.c in comparison with Barcelos at 41.7 p.c. Play extra numbers with free credit casino.
The matchup is presently listed at 2.5 rounds, with the beneath priced between -225 and -250 relying on the sportsbook. This means bettors anticipate the struggle to conclude earlier than the third spherical concludes.
Simón’s current trajectory helps his favourite standing. The Washington-based fighter earned a first-round knockout victory over Javid Basharat in February 2025, incomes a Efficiency of the Night time bonus, earlier than returning to kind with a unanimous resolution over Cameron Smotherman in June. The 32-year-old stands 22-6-0 in his skilled file and boasts spectacular grappling credentials, averaging 5.01 takedowns each quarter-hour with a 43 p.c completion price.
Barcelos, however, enters the matchup in exceptional form. Most recently, the MMA athlete defeated former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt by way of unanimous resolution in June, and previous to that earned consecutive wins over rising prospect Payton Talbott and Cristian Quiñonez, with the latter coming by submission. Barcelos maintains a 20-5-0 skilled file.
Simón is a wrestling-heavy fighter who makes an attempt to regulate fights via grappling, touchdown 2.93 important strikes per minute with 44 p.c accuracy. Barcelos, conversely, is a way more prolific striker, averaging 4.87 important strikes per minute with 52 p.c accuracy. Crucially, Barcelos possesses an 85 p.c takedown protection price.
The Brazilian holds a one-inch peak benefit at 5’7″ in comparison with Simón’s 5’6″, although Simón counters with a two-inch attain benefit at 69 inches versus Barcelos’ 67 inches. Each fighters keep orthodox stances and compete at an equivalent 135-pound weight class.
Simón’s current form following back-to-back wins positions him as the tactically favored competitor for control-based fighting, while Barcelos’ superior output volume and defensive wrestling make him dangerous if the contest remains standing.
