Waterford’s own Solomon ‘King’ Simon is set to take centre stage on Saturday 15 November as he fights for the vacant Cage Warriors 196 World Featherweight Title in London – a milestone moment not just for the 28-year-old fighter, but for Waterford’s growing MMA community.
Speaking ahead of the bout, Simon said preparations have gone to plan. “Training’s been good. We’ve gone through the hard part – now it’s just about cutting weight and sticking to what we’ve been prepping to do,” he said. “The body’s good, the mind’s good – that’s the main thing.”
He will face Nik Bagley in the main event of Cage Warriors 196, competing for the vacant featherweight title. The show takes place at the Indigo at The O2 venue in London.
Simon first stepped into an MMA gym around a decade ago, inspired – or perhaps provoked – by his older brother. “He started training before me and used to come home and take it out on me,” Simon laughed. “So I decided to go to the gym myself. It started as a hobby, but over time I realised I could take it further.”
After college at Dublin City University, he moved back home to Waterford, where he had his first MMA fight in 2018. Since then, under the guidance of his coaches – local Waterford mentor Tim Ryan at Ganbaru Jiu-Jitsu and Dublin’s Andy Ryan – he’s built an impressive career. He currently holds an unbeaten professional record of 6-0 with Cage Warriors.
When asked what’s kept him going through the years, Simon points to one key word: consistency. “At first it was just love for the sport, but it also gave me structure and discipline. Training became part of my day – not a chore. It’s just something I do.”
That discipline, he says, has shaped his mental toughness both in and out of the cage. “MMA is hard – you take a beating in training sometimes. But it teaches you resilience. Once you’ve gone through that, life doesn’t seem as daunting. You learn to problem-solve, to stay focused, and to push through whatever’s in front of you.”
Now a father to a young son, Simon says family has become an even greater source of motivation. “My fiancée Kelly’s been with me since college – she’s been amazing. And now having my son, that’s another fire in me. My family and my Waterford community are the foundation of everything I do.”
Representing Waterford on the world stage is something he doesn’t take lightly. “It’s massive,” he said. “To be the first from Waterford to do it – it’s a big statement for the gym and for the city. Bringing that belt home would mean a lot.”
Looking ahead, Simon’s ambitions are clear: “The goal is to get to the UFC – and not just get there, but become a champion. But right now, it’s one step at a time. This fight is the next step.”
When he’s not in the gym, Simon works full-time as a process scientist with Pfizer, balancing two demanding careers. “I’m not just a fighter,” he says. “I’m building something bigger – as an athlete, a professional, and a father.”
Waterford will be watching closely on 15 November – as one of their own steps into the cage chasing history.
