The UFC is finalizing Ray Borg vs. Merab Dvalishvili for its upcoming event on June 13, expected to take place in Las Vegas.
A bantamweight matchup has been added to the UFC’s upcoming schedule.
The promotion is currently finalizing a fight between [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] and [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] for its June 13 event. The event is expected to be in Las Vegas, pending Nevada Athletic Commission approval at a meeting scheduled for this Monday.
Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the targeted booking Thursday. They asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Dvalishvili (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has won three straight fights after losing his first two with the promotion. The Georgian bantamweight’s most recent fight took place at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in February, when he defeated then-UFC-ranked Casey Kenney. Dvalishvili also holds wins over Brad Katona, Terrion Ware, Raufeon Stots and Tony Gravely.
Borg (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) competed May 30 at UFC on ESPN+ 29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and had his two-fight winning streak snapped by Ricky Simon. Prior to the loss, Borg won back-to-back fights against Rogerio Bontorin and Gabriel Silva.
With the addition, the UFC’s June 13 lineup includes:
Merab Dvalishvili still hasn’t given up his quest to secure a fight with Sean O’Malley.
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] continues to call out [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag], and won’t give up his quest to secure the fight.
Dvalishvili (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has been calling O’Malley (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) out since 2018. However, he has yet to receive a response.
“I said a couple of times his name,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie. “I know if it makes sense to say again: His name is Sean O’Malley, I would love to fight with him. I keep saying his name but he ignores me and I don’t know (why).”
O’Malley returned with flying colors after a two-year long layoff, when he stopped Jose Quinonez by knockout in the first round at UFC 248 in March.
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Dvalishvili has won his past three bouts, including bouncing Brad Katona from the ranks of the unbeaten, and stopping a streaking Casey Kenney.
Although most of the division call out O’Malley because of his name value and ever-growing popularity, Dvalishvili actually respects his skillset, he said, and isn’t necessarily out to steal his thunder.
“Only I look at him like a best fighter in my weight class, not best fight, (Aljamain Sterling) is No. 1 for me. Nobody’s like Aljo but I look at him like one of those good fighters, one of those best fighters,” Dvalishvili said. “He’s really, really talented, he’s undefeated and everybody knows about him but I want to fight with the best guys. That’s only (reason) why I want to fight with him. He’s good, but I trust myself and it’s going to be war.
“I don’t want to steal his fans, he has his personality – he will always have his fans and his people.”
Take a look inside Merab Dvalishvili’s win over Casey Kenney at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.
RIO RANCHO, N.M. – [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] beat Casey Kenney with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.
Take a look inside the fight with Dvalishvili, who picked up his third straight win after dropping his first two fights in the UFC.
Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-28) Updated records: Dvalishvili (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Kenney (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) Key stat: Dvalishvili landed a dozen takedowns in the fight and outstruck Kenney 136-38.
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Dvalishvili on the fight’s key moment
“My first UFC fight, I was sick with the flu and lost – but it’s OK. The second fight, I lost because of the judges – it was a bad decision. Now I have three wins in a row. I have my groove, and I keep winning because I train with the best team, Serra Longo, and I have the best sparring partners. My team gives me so much motivation. I never stop training. I’m always ready for a fight. I want to stay busy and keep fighting.”
Dvalishvili on training with Aljamain Sterling
“I train my jiu-jitsu with Matt Serra, and they have great black belts there, so I was very prepared. My main training partner is Aljamain Sterling. He made me like this. Years ago, when I was an amateur, ‘Aljo’ made me his punching bag, and now we have great sparring. I owe him so much.”
Dvalishvili on what he wants next
“I want to keep busy, I can fight every month, every two months, I just want to be busy and be a fulltime fighter. I’m ready for the best guys and just want to represent my team and my country.”
To hear more from Dvalishvili, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
All the notable stats and figures to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 25, which saw Jan Blachowicz knock out Corey Anderson in the main event.
The UFC returned to New Mexico on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 25. The 13-fight card took place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho and streamed on ESPN+ 25.
The main event saw a potentially new top light heavyweight contender emerge to fight Jon Jones. Poland’s [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) extended his winning streak to three fights with a thunderous first-round knockout of [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), avenging a decision loss from September 2015.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 45 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 25.
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General
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UFC on ESPN+ 25 was the first event in UFC history to feature two disqualification results.
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $186,500.
Debuting fighters went 2-1 at the event.
Blachowicz, [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag], [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] and [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN+ 25 fight-night bonuses.
Betting favorites improved to 3-1 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 13-bout card was 2:18:54.
Main card
Jan Blachowicz
Blachowicz improved to 7-1 in his past eight UFC appearances dating back to October 2017. The only defeat in that stretch came to Thiago Santos.
Blachowicz’s three-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied for the second longest active streak in the division behind Jon Jones (four).
Anderson has suffered all four of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
[autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC) improved to 3-2 since he returned to the UFC welterweight division in November 2017. He’s 12-6 at the weight under the UFC banner.
Sanchez’s 19 victories in UFC competition are seventh most in company history. Donald Cerrone holds the record with 23.
Sanchez has absorbed 1,362 total head strikes in his UFC career, the second-most in company history behind B.J. Penn (1,434).
[autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag]’s (11-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) four victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Valentina Shevchenko (five).
[autotag]Mara Romero Borella[/autotag] (12-7 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has suffered both of her UFC losses by decision.
Ray Borg
[autotag]Ryan Borg[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has earned five of his seven UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Yancy Medeiros[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 6-7 UFC) fell to 0-2 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in January 2019. He’s 3-6 (with one no contest) in the weight class overall.
Preliminary card
Daniel Rodriguez
Rodriguez (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned 10 of his 11 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (29-12-1 MMA, 11-9 UFC) fell to 9-7 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in May 2014.
[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) improved to 4-4 since he returned to the UFC bantamweight division in April 2016. He’s 5-4 in the weight class overall.
Dodson has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
[autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has suffered all four of his career losses by stoppage.
Miller’s (31-14 MMA, 20-13 UFC) total fight time of 5:21:47 in UFC lightweight competition is most in divisional history.
Miller’s 11 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are tied with Nate Diaz for third most in divisional history behind Cerrone (15) and Joe Lauzon (15).
[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past seven UFC appearances.
Clark has earned all five of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Dequan Townsend[/autotag]’s (21-11 MMA, 0-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March.
Townsend has suffered nine of his 11 career losses by decision.
Merab Dvalishvili
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has earned seven of his 10 career victories by decision. That includes all four of his UFC wins.
Dvalishvili’s 12 takedowns landed set a new single-fight record for a UFC/WEC bantamweight fight. He was previously tied with two other fighters with 11 in a fight.
Dvalishvili became the fourth in UFC history to have multiple fights with 10 or more takedowns landed. Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson and Colby Covington also accomplished the feat.
Dvalishvili has completed 39 total takedowns in his five UFC appearances.
[autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag] (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has suffered both of his career losses by decision.
[autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]’s (11-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2018.
De La Rosa suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
UFC on ESPN+ 25 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.
RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 25 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $186,500.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC on ESPN+ 25 took place Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. The entire card streamed ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN+ 25 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
[autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag]: $5,000
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
“UFC on ESPN+ 25: Anderson vs. Blachowicz 2” – $186,500
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 25 event in Rio Rancho, N.M.
While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 25 went with as their backing tracks in Rio Rancho, N.M.
The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 25, which features a Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz rematch in the main event.
The UFC visits New Mexico for the second time in company history on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 25, which takes place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho and streams entirely on ESPN+.
A rematch between light heavyweight contenders takes center stage in the main event. [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) will attempt to continue his winning streak with a second victory over [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC), who will attempt to avenge his unanimous-decision loss from UFC 191 in September 2015.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the 13-fight card, check below for 55 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 25.
* * * *
Main event
Corey Anderson
Anderson’s four-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied with Jon Jones for the longest active streak in the division.
Anderson is one of 12 fighters in UFC history with 10 or more light heavyweight wins.
Anderson’s 10 victories since 2014 in UFC light heavyweight competition are tied with Ovince Saint Preux for most in the division.
Anderson’s 61-second knockout of Matt Van Buren at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale stands as the fastest finish in a “TUF” tournament final.
Anderson’s 53 takedowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Anderson lands 50 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition, the third-highest rate in divisional history behind Lyoto Machida (65 percent) and Blachowicz (52 percent).
Anderson lands 4.98 takedowns per 15 minutes of fighting in UFC light heavyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed against Patrick Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 are the single-fight record for a UFC light-heavyweight bout.
Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed vs. Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 are tied for the fifth most in a single UFC fight.
Jan Blachowicz
Blachowicz competes in his third UFC headliner. He’s 1-1 in previous main events.
Blachowicz is 6-1 in his past seven UFC appearances dating back to October 2017. The only defeat in that stretch came to Thiago Santos.
Blachowicz is one of two light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 53.
Blachowicz lands 52 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition, the second highest rate in divisional history behind Machida (65 percent).
Co-main event
Diego Sanchez
[autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC), 38, is the oldest of the 26 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Sanchez competes in his 31st UFC bout, tied for the fourth most appearances in company history behind Donald Cerrone (34), Jim Miller (33) and Jeremy Stephens (32).
Sanchez is the only active UFC fighter who was a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter 1.”
Sanchez is one of two fighters in UFC history to compete in four different weight classes. Kenny Florian also accomplished the feat.
Sanchez is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn victories in three different weight classes.
Sanchez is 2-2 since he returned to the UFC welterweight division in November 2017. He’s 11-6 at 170 pounds under the UFC banner.
Sanchez’s 12 victories by decision in UFC competition are tied with Georges St-Pierre for most in company history.
Sanchez has fought to a decision 20 times in UFC competition, the most in company history.
Sanchez has absorbed 1,342 total head strikes in his UFC career, the second-most in company history behind B.J. Penn (1,434).
Remaining main card
Montana De La Rosa
[autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag]’s (10-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC) three stoppage victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Valentina Shevchenko for second most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (four).
De La Rosa’s three submission victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Robertson for most in divisional history.
[autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned 14 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) returns to the flyweight division for the first time since October 2017. He’s 5-3 in the weight class under the UFC banner.
Lando Vannata
[autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag] (10-4-2 MMA, 2-4-2 UFC) is 1-3-2 in his past six UFC appearances.
Vannata’s two draws in men’s UFC competition are tied with Ken Shamrock, B.J. Penn and Caol Uno for most in company history.
[autotag]Yancy Medeiros[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC) was unsuccessful in his return to the UFC lightweight division at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January 2019. He’s 3-5 (with one no contest) in the weight class overall.
Medeiros’ average fight time of 6:58 in UFC lightweight competition is third shortest among active fighters in the weight class behind Charles Oliveira (4:51) and Drew Dober (6:41).
Medeiros vs. Alex Oliveira at UFC 218 is the only fight in UFC history to feature two knockdowns for each fighter.
Preliminary card
Tim Means
[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (29-11-1 MMA, 11-8 UFC) is 9-6 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in May 2014.
[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (20-11 MMA, 9-6 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Feb. 23, 2019. The 357-day layoff is the longest of his 15-year career.
Dodson enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He’s 1-3 in his past four bouts and hasn’t earned a victory since March 2018.
Dodson is 3-4 since he returned to the UFC bantamweight division in April 2016. He’s 4-4 in the weight class overall.
Dodson has fought to three split decision results in UFC bantamweight competition, tied for second most in divisional history behind Kyung Ho Kang (four).
[autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned 14 of his 16 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins.
Wood’s three submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Urijah Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).
Wood’s three-fight submission streak in UFC competition is tied with Claudio Silva for the longest among active fighters on the roster.
Jim Miller
[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] (31-13 MMA, 20-12 UFC) competes in his 34th UFC bout, tied with Cerrone for the most appearances in company history.
Miller competes in his 33rd UFC lightweight bout, the most in divisional history.
Miller’s total fight time of 5:06:47 in UFC lightweight competition is most in divisional history.
Miller’s 20 victories in UFC competition are tied with Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Michael Bisping for third most in company history behind Cerrone (23) and Demian Maia (22).
Miller’s 19 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Miller’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (13).
Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Miller’s 42 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past six UFC appearances. He was defeated in his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 19 in October.
Clark has earned all of his UFC victories by decision. He’s suffered all of his career losses by stoppage.
[autotag]Dequan Townsend[/autotag] (21-9 MMA, 0-1 UFC) becomes the first fighter to make two UFC appearances in 2020. He suffered a defeat at UFC on ESPN+ 24 on Jan. 25.
Merab Dvalishvili
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]’s (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) 11 takedowns landed at UFC Fight Night 123 are tied for the single-fight UFC/WEC bantamweight record.
Dvalishvili’s 11 takedowns landed at UFC Fight Night 123 are tied for the single-fight UFC record for most in a loss.
Dvalishvili outlanded Terrion Ware by 183 total strikes at UFC Fight Night 136, the biggest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
[autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC), along with his wife Montana, become the first spouses in UFC history to compete on the same card.
[autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC), 24, is the youngest of the 26 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
A matchup between bantamweight prospects Casey Kenney and Merab Dvalishvili is headed to UFC Rio Rancho.
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A matchup between bantamweight prospects is headed to Rio Rancho, N.M.
[autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag] (13-1-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will face [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at UFC on ESPN+ 25. MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with persons with knowledge of the agreement following an initial report from The Body Lock.
UFC Rio Rancho takes place Feb. 15 at Santa Ana Star Center in New Mexico. The card is expected to air on ESPN or stream on ESPN+.
“Dana White’s Contender Series” vet Kenney is off to a 2-0 start in his UFC tenure, scoring back-to-back wins over former UFC flyweight title challenger Ray Borg and, most recently, bouncing Manny Bermudez out of the ranks of the unbeaten in August.
Serra-Longo’s Dvalishvili has also won his last two in a row, most recently taking the zero out of Brad Katona’s undefeated record, defeating him via unanimous decision in May. Dvalishvili will now look to make it three straight when he takes on Kenney.
