Who wins tonight at LFA 36? Headliners Ricky Simon and Vinicius Zani disagree on who but not on how

Champion Ricky Simon and title challenger Vinicius Zani have different expectations as to who is going to get his hand raised when they clash at tonight’s LFA 36 event.

But the bantamweights don’t disagree on everything. For instance: Neither Simon (11-1) nor Zani (11-4) is expecting their headliner at Morongo Casino Resort, in Cabazon, Calif., to go the distance.

“I expect a lot of unorthodox striking, a lot of kicks,” Simon said ahead of AXS TV-televised card. “I know he’s tough on the ground, but I’m going to do what I do, take him own and inflict some ground and pound. I see myself pushing the pace, him not being able to keep up and me getting a finish in the later third or early fourth round.

“I’ll be throwing a lot of elbows form the top, and I’m going to open him up and get that finish, TKO.”

One can see why Simon would be hungering for a finish: Although he is on a four-fight winning streak, capped off by his title win at LFA 29, three of those wins were decided on the scorecards. The one finish of the bunch was a submission over Charon Spain this past May.

Zani, too, has three decision victories in his own four-fight winning streak. And, much like his competition, the Brazilian fighter is expecting to spice things up a bit tonight.

“You can expect a war, guys,” Zani said. “You can expect blood – a knockout. That’s what I visualize.”

While Simon is the one holding the 135-pound strap, he’s got less experience on the LFA stage. This will be only his second promotional appearance, following stints with Titan FC, KOTC and, more recently, Dana White’s Contender Series.

Zani, in turn, has fought for LFA twice. Less than six months after knocking out Willian Joplin in his promotional debut last April, he took a unanimous call over Joey Miolla at LFA 24. He also had one fight with RFA, which merged with Legacy FC to turn into LFA.

A win tonight for Zani would mean a title. But that’s not the only one he’s got his sights on.

“UFC belt – I want that belt,” Zani said. “So (UFC President Dana White), you can call me. Don’t be shy.”

That means you can add an octagon call to the list of common goals between tonight’s headliners.

“I feel with the win tonight, the UFC will be calling my phone real soon,” Simon said.

Hear more from the headliners by watching the video above.

And for more on LFA 36, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

LFA 36 is live on AXS TV tonight at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT). Make sure to tweet along using #LFA36. AXS TV airs new, live fights almost every Friday night in 2018. Find AXS TV on your TV right here: www.axs.tv/fights.