ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In 2014, [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] wasn’t part of the UFC’s inaugural event in New Mexico despite being on the roster. This time around, however, he isn’t missing a hometown opportunity.
Borg (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), a former UFC flyweight title challenger, takes on Rogerio Bontorin (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on the UFC on ESPN+ 25 main card.
“I was actually in fight camp to make my second appearance in the UFC, but it was something cool. It still hadn’t set in that I was in the UFC,” Borg told reporters at a pre-fight media day Thursday. “I was still kind of a fan. I sat front row, and it was like, ‘Man, this is awesome. You know how cool it would be to fight in front of my hometown?’
“It sounds super cliche, but it’s something I’ve always dreamed about since I was a kid when I first started training. Being in high school training MMA, I wasn’t sure it was ever going to be in the UFC or anything. But I told myself I wanted to fight on a huge stage in front of my hometown. It’s kind of something a little bit dreamt about.”
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UFC on ESPN+ 25 takes place Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. The event streams on ESPN+.
Check out MMA Junkie’s full UFC on ESPN+ 25 pre-fight interview with Borg in the video above.
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