Ronny Markes defeats Aaron Simpson by split decision. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29.
Ronny Markes battled Aaron Simpson for three rounds in a back-and-forth affair. An uppercut dropped the Brazilian in the first round, but Simpson was unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Markes recovered and was able to remain competitive for the remainder of the round.
The rest of the fight was a sort of myopic clinch affair. Markes was able to muscle the former ASU wrestling coach around the cage and completed several takedowns. Unfortunately, he was unable to damage Simpson when the fight hit the mat.
Ronny Markes is now 2-0 in the UFC and is slowly establishing his spot on the UFC’s roster. A win over Aaron Simpson will definitely give him the opportunity to showcase his skills against tougher middleweights. Aaron Simpson will remain a tough test for opponents but has likely hit his ceiling as a fighter.