Ray Borg believes he has hit a new stride in his fight game, re-discovering the fire he had from his early UFC days.
Former UFC flyweight title challenger [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] has experienced his fair share of highs and lows throughout his career, but the 28-year-old believes he has hit a new stride.
Following his unceremonious exit from the UFC in 2020 after missing two straight fights, Borg contemplated retiring from the sport, but ultimately decided to continue fighting after realizing that he was built to compete.
At Eagle FC 44, Borg (14-5) hopes to make it two straight wins following his unanimous decision victory over Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 20, as he returns from a seven-month hiatus to face fellow UFC veteran Cody Gibson.
“At this point in my career, I’m not going to fight anyone who’s a bum,” Borg told MMA Junkie. ” He’s a good fighter, he’s coming off a good win, but there really are some levels to this game.”
Having shared the cage with Demetrious Johnson when he was in his prime at UFC 216, Borg believes his experiences in tough situations such as that one, coupled with his renewed focus on the fight game, will give him the edge over Gibson (18-7).
“Ray Borg, right now mentally, is in a very dangerous spot for any of my opponents,” Borg explained. “I’m focused, I’m driven. I haven’t been this focused since I’ve been a young kid. When I first got in the UFC and I was a young, hungry lion, now I’m that seasoned, polished lion. I’m in a great, great spot right now.
“Being 28, I have a load of experience. I fought some of the best in the world. I fought the best in the entire game, so it goes a long way for me. I think right now I’m in a fantastic spot in my career.”
[lawrence-related id=2047208,1987556]
As Eagle FC prepares for its first event on American soil, Borg says the promotion has done a fantastic job treating its fighters well, living up to the expectations when he heard former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was involved.
“We knew that when Khabib was putting on a promotion that he was gonna do it big and he was gonna do it great,” Borg said. “So far he’s completely delivered. It’s completely professional. It couldn’t get any high-level than this, honestly.”
Eagle FC 44 takes place Jan. 28 in Miami and streams on FLX Cast.
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,227, the fellas welcomed in guest [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag], who has been a hard man to track down for a while. They also previewed Saturday’s big UFC 270 event in Anaheim, Calif., with its heavyweight and flyweight title fights. Tune in!
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
The Khabib Nurmagomedov-led promotion’s first event on American soil is loading up with notable names.
Former UFC bantamweights [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] and [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag] are set to throw down at the inaugural North American event for [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s Eagle FC promotion.
A person with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Eagle FC 44 event takes place Jan. 28 in Miami and is expected to stream on FLX Cast.
[lawrence-related id=1825224]
Borg (14-5), a former UFC flyweight title challenger, was released by the UFC in 2020 following a string of bout cancellations for various reasons. Since then, Borg has competed once – a unanimous decision victory over Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 20 in June.
Since his UFC release in 2015, Gibson (18-7) has gone 6-1 with two finishes. In his most recent fight, Gibson defeated former UFC flyweight title challenger John Dodson by unanimous decision at XMMA 3.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag]’s string of bad luck continues.
Borg, a former UFC flyweight title challenger, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of his bantamweight title fight against champion Vinicius de Oliveira (16-2) at UAE Warriors 24 on Oct. 29. Stepping in to face de Oliveira will be EFC champion Sylvester Chipfumbu (7-3).
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie. The news of Borg’s withdrawal was first reported by Cageside Press.
Borg (14-5) took to social media to address his withdrawal, saying that he experienced heavy symptoms from the virus.
“My heart breaks to have to post this but unfortunately I have tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to compete at UAE Warriors 24. I have learned that although COVID varies from person to person, it is definitely not something to take lightly. I have been extremely sick the last week and have not even been able to get out of my own bed. On top of having everything symptom there is for COVID, the duration has lasted longer than usual. I am very upset that I will not have the opportunity to compete for such an amazing organization and send my sincere apologies to everyone who supported me this camp. Thank you to my manager Ali for getting me this opportunity as well as Fouad Darwish for having me a part of his show. I will heal up and be back strong, thank you for all the support.”
With Dana White expected to be at the UAE Warriors 24 show to film an episode of “Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight,” Borg will miss an opportunity to get back on the UFC’s radar.
Since getting released by the UFC in August 2020 after consecutive fight cancellations, Borg defeated Canadian veteran Jesse Arnett by unanimous decision at UAE Warriors 20 in June.
After making good in his promotional debut, Ray Borg will get to challenge for the UAE Warriors title.
After making good in his promotional debut, [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] will get to challenge for the UAE Warriors title.
Borg (14-5) challenges [autotag]Vinicius de Oliveira[/autotag] (16-2) for the bantamweight title in the main event of UAE Warriors 23 on Oct. 29, MMA Junkie confirmed with promotional officials Sunday.
Since his release from the UFC in August 2020 after consecutive fight cancellations, former UFC flyweight title challenger Borg picked up a unanimous decision win over Canadian veteran Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 20 in June.
Winner of five in a row, Brazil’s de Oliveira captured the bantamweight title when he knocked out Xavier Alaoui at UAE Warriors 18 in March.
Borg, who announced that he would retire after getting released from the UFC, had a change of heart and now finds himself with a big opportunity to capture a title in an organization that has grown to become a major stepping stone to the UFC. In January, the UFC had its first “Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight” episode in the Middle East and signed Rinat Fakhretdinov and Carlston Harris after UAE Warriors 15.
With UAE Warriors 23 taking place one day before UFC 267, Borg could get back on the UFC’s radar if he can capture the title in impressive fashion.
Is there anyone who DOESN’T want to fight Sean O’Malley?
As it stands, [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] doesn’t have a UFC 264 opponent – but he has no shortage of potential suitors.
Shortly after news surfaced Tuesday that O’Malley’s original opponent, Louis Smolka, withdrew from their July 10 pay-per-view main card bout, an assortment of fighters took to social media to lobby for the opening.
The callouts and challenges for O’Malley (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) stretched beyond the bantamweight division as even some flyweights and featherweights raised their hands.
Scroll below to read a running list of the fighters eager to compete against “The Suga Show” at UFC 264.
After more than a year away from competition, Ray Borg is ready to make his return to MMA.
After more than a year away from competition, [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] is ready to make his return to MMA.
Borg, a former UFC flyweight title challenger, is set to fight [autotag]Jesse Arnett[/autotag] on June 10 at a UAE Warriors event. Borg’s manager, Dominance MMA’s Ali Abdelaziz, and promotion officials informed MMA Junkie of “The Tazmexican Devil’s” booking Thursday. No details were provided about the status of Borg’s contract with the Abu Dhabi-based promotion.
“I’m extremely excited to get an opportunity to fight for UAE Warriors and prove to myself that I’m one of the best bantamweights in the world,” Borg said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me.”
Arnett (18-6), Borg’s opponent, is 36 years old. He’ll enter on a three-fight winning streak, most recently earning a split decision over Elias Boudegzdame this past January at UAE Warriors 15.
Ray Borg spoke candidly about understanding why the UFC released him, but he’s not ready to give up on his career just yet.
After his latest withdrawal from a fight, [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] figured he knew what would come next, so he text messaged UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby to let him know he was OK with it.
“I said, ‘Hey, man, if you guys let me go, and I’m cut, thank you for believing in me. Thank you for giving a kid like me who comes from nothing a shot. I ain’t mad at you. I understand,'” Borg said in an interview with Sherdog published Wednesday. “I knew it was coming. I knew I was on thin ice to begin with given recent situations.”
As he predicted, Borg was released from the UFC in early August. What followed, by his own admission, was weeks of depression, which led to the former UFC flyweight title challenger announcing this past Thursday, Aug. 27, that he was retiring from MMA.
Borg eventually deleted his post on social media and has reversed course one week later. He won’t be retiring after all.
“To be truly honest, my depression and stress got the best of me, and I was really in it that day. I was just done. I just didn’t want much more of the sport,” Borg said of his initial announcement. “I have a family. I have a wife, I have a son, and the first thing I thought to myself was, ‘I let myself get cut from the UFC, and I’ve got to put food on the table. I’ve got to provide, keep the lights on. I think the best thing to do for myself and my family is to straight up get 9-to-5 (job).’ As gut wrenching as something like that is to say, I’ve got a son. He’s got medical bills. He has MRI check-ups and things like that. I’ve got to provide for him, and I’ve got to make sure that’s OK. So my first thought was, ‘I’ve got to call it quits. I’ve got to be done, and I’ve got to just live that blue-collar life.'”
What changed Borg’s mind? He said it was two things: the reaction from both kids he used to train and his wife.
“I had intentions on retiring. I really did,” Borg said. “But I started getting messages from people, and the ones that really hit me hard were messages from kids who I used to coach and train, young kids who come from troubled beginnings and things like that. And I always strived and told them to work hard, and they can get themselves out of the gutter. And I had some kids message me saying, ‘Hey, coach, you can’t retire. You taught me to be tougher than that. You’re too young. You have too much skills. You can’t retire. It’s too soon for you. You’re only 27.’
“Then I talked to me wife, and to be honest, my wife didn’t really know I decided I was going to retire. So she comes at me (and asks), ‘What are you doing? Why are you retiring?’ I was like, ‘I have to. I’ve got to pay the bills for you guys.’ And she’s like, ‘Nah, you can’t.’ And she let me know I owe it to my son. I can’t have my son look at me in 10 years and tell me, ‘Dad, why’d you quit?’ I’m one of the most talented guys in the world, I feel. On a good day I’m unbeatable. I just couldn’t do it. I owe it to too many people to get myself out of this gutter and try to make it.”
The health of Ray Borg’s son has contributed to hard times for the former UFC title challenger.
It’s been a tumultuous three years for Borg. He was set to challenge then 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson in September 2017, but the fight was pushed back one month after Borg withdrew because of an illness. Borg lost to Johnson at UFC 216 by fifth-round submission, and from there Borg hit pitfall after pitfall.
His scheduled UFC 223 fight with Brandon Moreno in April 2018 was canceled after Borg was injured by broken glass from a bus window during the infamous Conor McGregor media day rampage. The Moreno fight, although rescheduled for May, never materialized after Borg withdrew to take care of his son born with a brain condition.
Over the next two years, Borg withdrew from two more fights for various reasons, weighed in heavy twice – at bantamweight and flyweight – and went 2-2, all leading to his release from the UFC.
Despite what often seemed like tough luck, Borg admitted to feeling too comfortable with the UFC’s understanding through it all, which “led to bad situations.”
“I wasn’t mad (at being released),” Borg said. “I totally understood the decision. … A lot of it could’ve been in my control.”
Since his UFC exit, Borg said he’s been working as a DoorDash delivery person to supplement his income. What comes next in his career is uncertain. Taking a few years off to regroup sounds good to him, but it’s also not feasible if MMA still factors into his future.
“It does sound OK to do that, but I don’t know if I can do that. There’s no way I can provide for my family the way that I have through fighting. And I’m really good at it,” Borg said. “If I take a year off, I think that’s plenty. It’s more about getting my outside life taken care of so that way it’s not affecting me inside the octagon. That’s the biggest thing for myself. I’m not too sure where it’s going to go. I do know I’m not retiring. I just have to get some (expletive) together.”
Escucha el quinto episodio de Hablemos MMA con “Stitch” Duran.
(Editor’s note: Hablemos MMA is MMA Junkie’s weekly Spanish-language podcast hosted by reporter Danny Segura. New episodes are released every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more of your favorite podcasting platforms. You can also stream or download the latest episode here.)
En el episodio número seis de Hablemos MMA, Danny Segura entrevista a Jacob “Stitch” Duran acerca de su carrera como curandero de esquina, como empezó en los deportes de combate, su despido controversial de UFC, y mucho más.
También analizamos los resultados de UFC on ESPN+ 33: [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] y las noticias de la semana incluyendo los últimos comentarios de[autotag] George St-Pierre[/autotag] acerca del posible combate con [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag], retiro de [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag], y mucho más.
Ray Borg spoke out for the first time since being released from his UFC contract.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] has made his first public statement since his UFC release.
Last week, the UFC released Borg (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC), a former flyweight title challenger, after his second straight fight-week withdraw.
Borg was removed from his bantamweight bout against Nathan Maness at UFC on ESPN+ 31 on the day of the weigh-ins. Reasons for that move were not disclosed by the UFC, but it was the second straight event that Borg missed. At UFC on ESPN 10 in June, Borg was supposed to fight Merab Dvalishvili. But two days before the event, Borg left Las Vegas and returned home for personal reasons.
Friday, the New Mexico native made an impassioned Instagram post in which he expressed both regret and thanks for his UFC tenure, and vowed he’d be back.
I guess it’s time to break some silence. 6 wild years with the UFC, I have experienced some highs and lows during this time. Sean Shelby, Mick Maynard and Dana white have actually treated me insanely good and have given me so many chances to get my shit together and i failed to do so. Over the last 2 1/2 years my wife and I have gone threw so much, so much that most people couldn’t even understand how we get through the day. From our first born child being at risk everyday for brain surgery, to having to gain custody of a very troubled 8 year old little girl. Unfortunately I have let all these struggles effect me during some of the most important times in my career. I am gutted to part ways with the ufc but I am also grateful for all the cool experiences I have taken part of over the years. I have some physiological shit I need to figure out before I know what my next move is, so this is not a goodbye post but rather a temporary pause until I can come back better. Just want to thank my team for standing with me threw all this and having my back, also want to thank my manger Ali for always having my back, no matter how hard it has been he has always been there for me. I’ll be back.
Borg’s UFC career was littered with weight misses at both flyweight and bantamweight. He missed the flyweight mark three separate times – but wound up winning all three of those fights.
His life outside the cage has received considerable attention. His son, both in 2018, suffers from hydrocephalus, a brain condition. That has led Borg on multiple occasions to put his family’s best interests ahead of his fighting interests.
