Tag: Ray Borg

Ray Borg given release after second straight missed fight at UFC on ESPN+ 31

If Ray Borg continues his fighting career, it apparently will be under a new promotional banner his next time out.

If [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] continues his fighting career, it apparently will be under a new promotional banner his next time out.

The UFC on Friday confirmed to MMA Junkie it has released Borg (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) from his contract. The news first was reported by MMAFighting.com.

The move comes a week after 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.

He exits the UFC on a loss in May to Ricky Simon in his return to the bantamweight division after he missed weight for a flyweight win over Rogerio Bontorin in February in New Mexico in what was a home fight for the Albuquerque resident.

Borg’s UFC career has been 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.

After he challenged Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight title at UFC 216 and lost by fifth-round armbar, he returned to bantamweight for a fight with Casey Kenney 18 months later and missed weight for that bout despite fighting 10 pounds heavier than he was before.

Borg’s 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.

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Ray Borg out of UFC on ESPN+ 31; Nathan Maness expected to fight Johnny Munoz

The bad luck continues for Ray Borg.

The bad luck continues for UFC bantamweight [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag].

Borg (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) has fallen out of a fight once again, this time from his UFC on ESPN+ 31 matchup against [autotag]Nathan Maness[/autotag]. Borg is out for undisclosed reason.

A replacement has been found, however. Maness (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is now expected to fight fellow promotional newcomer [autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] pending bout finalization. The fight will be contested up a weight class at featherweight.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the change early Friday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion had yet to make an announcement just hours before-weigh-ins.

Borg now has missed back-to-back bookings. At UFC on ESPN 10 in June, Borg was supposed to fight Merab Dvalishvili. However, two days before the bout, Borg left Las Vegas and returned home for personal reasons.

A former flyweight title challenger, Borg’s history includes four weight misses, a withdrawal from the first scheduled date for his shot at then-flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in 2017, and removal from UFC 223 when he was a victim of Conor McGregor’s attack on a fighter van following a media day.

Maness, 29, is a former TKO MMA champion. The Kentucky-based fighter has picked up six finishes (four knockouts and two submissions) in 12 professional bouts. His lone career loss was suffered to former UFC bantamweight Taylor Lapilus in May 2019.

Munoz (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) comes into UFC on ESPN+ 31 as the KOTC bantamweight champion. Out of 10 professional victories, Munoz has finished eight inside the distance. Prior to signing with the UFC, Munoz was expected to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer.

UFC on ESPN+ 31 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ after prelims simulcasted on ESPN/ESPN+.

With the change, the UFC on ESPN+ 31 lineup includes:

  • Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
  • Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia
  • Randy Brown vs. Vicente Luque
  • Bobby Green vs. Lando Vannata
  • Trevin Giles vs. Kevin Holland
  • Jonathan Martinez vs. Frankie Saenz
  • Ed Herman vs. Gerald Meerschaert
  • Nate Maness vs. Johnny Munoz
  • Markus Perez vs. opponent TBA
  • Vincent Cachero vs. Jamall Emmers
  • Cody Durden vs. Chris Gutierrez

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Ray Borg issues positive statement on son’s condition after UFC on ESPN 10 withdrawal

Good news from Ray Borg regarding his 2-year-old son, Anthony.

Good news from [autotag]Ray Borg:[/autotag] His son is OK.

Two days before UFC on ESPN 10 took place Saturday, Borg withdrew from the event. Although an official reason wasn’t disclosed, Borg indicated on social media that he went home to be with his son.

On Saturday, Borg issued a statement on Twitter, providing a positive update that his son’s health scare was just that – a scare.

“Thank you all so much for the overwhelming love and support,” Borg wrote. “As you all know I pulled from my fight to be with my son. With his condition being lifelong, he is at risk for surgery every day. Although there were some worries about his shunt failing due to some malfunction symptoms, I am happy to let everyone know that he is at home doing well and will not need any surgery. Thank you everyone who had reached out. We love you all.”

Borg’s 2-year-old son, Anthony, was born with a brain condition in 2018, which contributed to a long layoff in Borg’s career.

On Saturday, Borg’s opponent, Merab Dvalishvili, won a dominant unanimous decision against replacement Gustavo Lopez at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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UFC Fight Night 172: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Ray Borg odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 172 fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Ray Borg, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

Merab Dvalishvili and Ray Borg hook up in a bantamweight fight on the main card at UFC Fight Night 172 Saturday at the UFC’s Apex Facility in Las Vegas. The prelims kick off at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main card set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+.

Dvalishvili (10-4) heads into this one with a two-inch height advantage and a five-inch reach advantage, while dominating in terms of significant strikes landed per minute (3.84 to 1.52) and takedown average (7.80 to 3.89). That explains why the Georgia native (think Tbilisi, not Atlanta) is the heavy favorite. The striker has won three straight, winning each by unanimous decision, after losing his first two at the UFC level. Borg will easily be the toughest fighter Dvalishvili has faced to date, however.

Borg (13-5) will have big measurable disadvantages, particularly the reach, but he is a big-time grappler who will be trying to get Dvalishvili to the canvas early and often. Borg, nicknamed “The Tazmexican Devil,” suffered a disappointing split-decision loss to Ricky Simon May 13, 2020 on the Smith-Teixeira card, and apparently can’t wait to try to redeem himself. Borg is 2-3 across his past five bouts, with four straight going the distance. With the exception for the Demetrious Johnson title bout Oct. 7, 2017 at UFC 216 when Borg was clearly overmatched, his other two losses during the five-fight span could have easily gone the other way.

Want to place a bet on UFC Fight Night 172? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Ray Borg betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, June 11 at 4:40 a.m. ET.

The veteran BORG (+310) is worth a roll of the dice on a small-unit play, just don’t get carried away. Borg is just the better value play. He could easily be on a three-bout win streak if not for the split-decision loss last time out, and perhaps that would’ve changed the perception of him coming into this one. Dvalishvili (-400) has a better body of work lately, but who has he really fought? Borg is the most experienced UFC fighter Dvalishvili will have faced in his entire career, and laying four times your potential return is just not good betting.

It’s a little expensive, but taking YES (-250): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is the way to go. Neither of these fighters have been getting quick finishes lately, with only one of Dvalishvili’s past five finishing inside the distance. He has also never been submitted in his pro career, something Borg would like to change. However, the Georgian should keep him at a distance and try to wow the judges with his technical ability.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Dvalishvili (-400) to win pays a profit of just $2.50, while a winning $10 bet on Borg (+310) fetches a profit of $31. A $10 wager of YES (-250) for the fight to go the distance returns $4.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some action on this MMA bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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5 burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN 10

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head takes a look at the five biggest storylines ahead of UFC on ESPN 10 in Las Vegas.

UFC on ESPN 10 features a card packed with up-and-coming talent looking to set themselves up for bigger tests later in the year.

In the main event, former women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag] will look to build more momentum as she welcomes former strawweight contender [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] to the 125-pound division, while the co-main event features a middleweight grudge match as [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag] and [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] aim to push themselves toward the division’s big names with a win.

UFC on ESPN 10 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Let’s take a look at five burning questions heading into the event.

****

Can Jessica Eye move one step closer to a second title shot?

Don’t let the naysayers tell you any different. This fight has huge significance for the top of the UFC women’s flyweight division. And for Jessica Eye, it’s the chance to build more momentum as she looks to build the strongest possible case for a rematch with reigning champ Valentina Shevchenko.

Eye’s highlight-reel head-kick knockout loss to “Bullet” remains her only flyweight defeat in the UFC and, after bouncing back with a decision win over Viviane Araujo in her last outing, Eye (15-7 MMA, 5-6 UFC) will be keen to secure a high-profile victory under the main event spotlight on Saturday night.

Standing in her way is Calvillo, who is moving up from strawweight to make her flyweight debut. But if Eye can produce a strong performance and turn back the challenge of the flyweight division’s dangerous new arrival, “Evil” Eye might not be too far away from the chance to avenge her loss to Shevchenko and capture UFC gold.

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How to watch UFC Fight Night, with Eye-Calvillo odds and fight card

How to watch Eye vs. Calvillo, with betting odds for the full UFC Fight Night fight card.

The UFC is back at UFC APEX in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 172 Saturday night. Jessica Eye will meet Cynthia Calvillo in a Women’s Flyweight bout as the Main Event. All the action will be available on ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the betting odds for the full UFC Fight Night fight card.

How to watch UFC Fight Night 172

Where can I watch UFC Fight Night – Eye vs. Calvillo?

The main card is available on ESPN and ESPN+; sign up for ESPN+ here.

Prelim bouts are available on ESPN and ESPN+.

What time is UFC Fight Night?

The main card is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET.

Prelims are set for 6 p.m. ET.

When is UFC Fight Night 172?

Saturday, June 13.

Where is UFC Fight Night taking place?

UFC Fight Night 172 will be held at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

UFC Fight Night 172 odds featuring Eye vs. Calvillo and full main card

Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM. All lines last updated Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.

UFC Fight Night’s main card is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET.

Jessica Eye (-120) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (+100)

Women’s Flyweight – Main Event. Eye is the division’s No. 1 contender with a record of 15-7. Calvillo is the 10th-ranked women’s flyweight and is 8-1-1.

Karl Roberson (+185) vs. Marvin Vettori (-228)

Two unranked middleweight fighters. Roberson is 9-2, Vettori is 14-4-1.

Merab Dvalishvili (-400) vs. Ray Borg (+310)

Bantamweight bout. Both fighters are unranked. Dvalishvili is 10-4, Borg is 13-5. It’s the most lopsided betting line on the main card.

Andre Fili (-228) vs. Charles Jourdain (+185)

Fili (20-7) takes on Jourdain (10-2) in a featherweight bout.

Jordan Espinosa (-164) vs. Mark De La Rosa (+135)

The 13th-ranked Espinosa enters UFC Fight Night at 14-7. De La Rosa is 11-4 heading into this bantamweight fight.

Want to place a bet on UFC Fight Night 172? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

UFC Fight Night 172 prelims card

The prelim card is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET.

Mariya Agapova (-250) vs. Hannah Cifers (+200)

The 5-foot-8 Agapova (8-1) is seven inches taller than Cifers (10-5), heading into this women’s flyweight bout.

Charles Rosa (+145) vs. Kevin Aguilar (-176)

Lightweight bout. Rosa is 12-4, Aguilar is 17-3.

Julia Avila (-500) vs. Gina Mazany (+375)

Avila puts her 7-1 record on the line against Mazany (6-3) in a women’s bantamweight fight.

Tyson Nam (-125) vs. Zarrukh Adashev (+100)

One of the closest betting lines of the night. The highly-experienced Nam (18-11-1) takes on Adashev (3-1) in a bantamweight bout.

Jordan Griffin (-164) vs. Darrick Minner (+135)

Two veteran fighters. Griffin (18-7) battles Minner (24-11) in what’s projected as a tight featherweight contest.

Anthony Ivy (-189) vs. Christian Aguilera (+155)

Welterweight bout. Ivy enters at 8-2; Aguilera is 13-6.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some betting action on any of these MMA bouts, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Ray Borg out of UFC on ESPN 10, Merab Dvalisvhili now fights Combate Americas champ Gustavo Lopez

Ray Borg is out. Gustavo Lopez is in.

[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] is out of UFC on ESPN 10.

Borg (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC), a former UFC title challenger, has withdrawn from his fight against [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] for personal reasons. Taking Borg’s place will be UFC newcomer [autotag]Gustavo Lopez[/autotag]. The fight will take place at a 140-pound catchweight.

A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking on Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement, and Lopez’s manager, Danny Rubenstein of Ruby Sports & Entertainment, subsequently confirmed the agreement. The UFC announced Borg’s withdrawal on Thursday’s virtual media day.

Lopez (11-4 MMA, 0-0), the current Combate Americas bantamweight champion, has won three straight entering his promotional debut. In 11 victories, Lopez has finished eight opponents.

Dvalishvili (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has also 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.

The entire lineup for the June 13 UFC event includes:

MAIN CARD (9 p.m. E.T.)

  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Jessica Eye
  • Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori
  • Andre Fili vs. Charles Jourdain
  • Merab Dvalishvili vs. Gustavo Lopez
  • Mark De La Rosa vs. Jordan Espinosa

PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. E.T.)

  • Mariya Agapova vs. Melissa Gatto
  • Kevin Aguilar vs. Charles Rosa
  • Julia Avila vs. Gina Mazany
  • Zarrukh Adashev vs. Tyson Nam
  • Jordan Griffin vs. Darrick Minner
  • Christian Aguilera vs. Anthony Ivy

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UFC Fight Night 172 Eye vs. Calvillo: Main Card Betting Odds

Previewing the main card betting odds for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 172 highlighted by Jessica Eye vs. Cynthia Calvillo.

UFC Fight Night 172 takes place Saturday at UFC APEX Facility in Las Vegas. The main card will get underway at 9 p.m. ET and is available on ESPN+. Below, we preview the main card betting odds for UFC Fight Night 172.

UFC Fight Night 172 betting odds: Main card

Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM. All lines last updated Thursday at 1:50 p.m. ET.

Jessica Eye (-120) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (+100)

Eye (15-7) is the No. 1 contender in the Women’s Flyweight division and will take on the No. 10 contender in Calvillo (8-1-1). Eye is two inches taller, along with having a two-inch reach advantage, but both fighters check in at 125 pounds, according to ESPN.com.

The main event carries the tightest betting lines of the entire UFC Fight Night main card.

Want to place a bet on UFC Fight Night 172? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Marvin Vettori (-228) vs. Karl Roberson (+185)

A pair of unranked fighters take to the Octagon in this middleweight bout. Roberson (9-2) is 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds. Vettori (14-4-1) is 6-foot and 185 pounds.

Merab Dvalishvili (-400) vs. Ray Borg (+310)

The bantamweight bout features a pair of highly experienced fighters. Dvalishvili comes in at 10-4 while Borg is 13-5. Dvalishvili has a two-inch height advantage and five inches of extra reach. Borg is the biggest underdog on the main card.

Andre Fili (-228) vs. Charles Jourdain (+185)

Fili (20-7) will try to hold off Jourdain and his 10-2 record in a featherweight contest. Fili is two inches taller and has a five-inch reach advantage.

Jordan Espinosa (-164) vs. Mark De La Rosa (+135)

Espinosa, the No. 13 bantamweight contender, is the lone other ranked fighter on the main card outside of the main event. He enters at 14-7 and will take on the unranked De La Rosa (11-4). Both fighters check in at 5-foot-6 but Espinosa has a 4 1/2-inch reach advantage.

UFC Fight Night 172: How to watch

When: Saturday, June 13 – the main card begins at 9 p.m. ET

Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas

How to watch: Eye-Calvillo, along with the rest of UFC Fight Night 172, will be available on ESPN+. Sign up for ESPN+ now.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some betting action on any of these MMA bouts, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC on ESPN 10: Make your predictions for Jessica Eye vs. Cynthia Calvillo

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. Calvillo event in Las Vegas.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 250 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN 10 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:

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Dana White reveals full UFC lineup for June 13 in Las Vegas

UFC president Dana White has announced the full June 13 lineup for the promotion’s event, which is expected to take place in Las Vegas.

Nine days prior to its June 13 event, the UFC has announced its full lineup of fights.

UFC president Dana White revealed the 10-fight card in an interview with ESPN on Thursday. Eight of the fights had already been revealed, but two new matchups were confirmed: [autotag]Kevin Aguilar[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) and [autotag]Jordan Griffin[/autotag] (18-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag] (24-11 MMA, 0-1 UFC). Both fights will be contested at featherweight.

Headlined by a women’s flyweight fight between [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] and [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag], the main card lineup also features [autotag]Karl Roberson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag], [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag], [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag], and [autotag]Mark De La Rosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag].

The event will take place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, pending Nevada Athletic Commission approval at a meeting scheduled for this Monday. Broadcast plans have yet to be announced.

With entire lineup for the June 13 UFC event is as follows:

MAIN CARD (9 p.m. E.T.)

  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Jessica Eye
  • Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori
  • Andre Fili vs. Charles Jourdain
  • Ray Borg vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Mark De La Rosa vs. Jordan Espinosa

PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. E.T.)

  • [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Melissa Gatto[/autotag]
  • Kevin Aguilar vs. Charles Rosa
  • [autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]
  • Jordan Griffin vs. Darrick Minner

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