Ray Borg wrestles his way to a dominant decision win at UFC Rio Rancho.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] sure can wrestle.
The former flyweight title challenger picked up a dominant decision win on Saturday night at UFC on ESPN+ 25, outpointing Brazil’s Rogerio Bontorin 30-27, 30-27 and 30-25 on the judges’ scorecards.
The catchweight bout (Borg missed the flyweight limit) was part of the UFC on ESPN+ 25 main card at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. It streamed on ESPN+.
Borg (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) used his superior wrestling and grappling to dominate Bontorin (16-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) for the majority of the 15 minutes.
Bontorin used his size early to impose his will on Borg, pinning him against the cage for the first half of the first round. Borg then got Bontorin’s timing and feel in the clinch, as he’d score a takedown to control and win the second half of the first round.
From that point on, Borg fought in cruise control, taking down Bontorin every round and controlling the action on the canvas. “The Tazmexican Devil” landed a few good shots on the ground and even threatened with a rear-naked choke in the second round, but never really came close to finishing the bout. Yet, it was clear Borg was in control en route to victory.
[lawrence-related id=490076,490081,490032]
The 26-year-old fighter is now enjoying back-to-back wins in his career after a two-fight skid in which he lost to Casey Kenny and then flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
Following the bout, Borg apologized to his opponent, fans and the UFC for missing weight and vowed to find a better system to get down to 126 pounds. Borg has now missed weight four times in his six-year run with the UFC.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 25 results include:
Ray Borg def. Rogerio Bontorin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
Analyzing Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz odds, picks and betting lines for UFC on ESPN+ 25
Corey Anderson and Jan Blachowicz square off in a light heavyweight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 – also called UFC Fight Night 167 – at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. Saturday evening.
Anderson (14-4-0) will be facing Blachowicz for the second time in his career, and he is hopeful the result is the same as it was back at UFC 191 on Sept. 5, 2015 when Anderson came away with a unanimous decision victory in three rounds. He heads into this one with a head of steam, winning four in a row, including a brisk 2:07 KO/TKO against one of my favorite named UFC fighters, Johnny Walker, who was blue after his loss. Since his last loss to Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 217, the 30-year-old Anderson has rolled up wins over Patrick Cummins, Glover Teixeira, Ilir Latifi and Walker, putting him in position to get a championship shot if he isn’t derailed in this one.
Blachowicz (25-8-0) has waited nearly five years for another crack at Anderson, and he’ll get it in sandy New Mexico. The Berkut WCA Fight Team fighter is 36 years old, and it’s now or never if he wants a shot at the strap in his class. His UFC career got off to a hot start with a win over Latifi back on Oct. 4, 2014, but he proceeded to lose four of his next five bouts, including to Anderson. After a setback to Cummins at UFC 210, it’s been mostly smooth sailing, winning six of the past seven, including a split-decision win over Jacare Souza last time out in a five-round main event victory on Nov. 16. That bout proved he still has the goods to compete with anyone in this class.
Want to bet on Fight Night 167? New customer offer: Risk free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!
Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz betting odds
Per BetMGM, Anderson (-228) is a rather moderate favorite over Blachowicz (+165) in this rematch. Anderson holds a slight height and reach advantage over Blachowicz, both by one inch, but his real advantage is in striking and takedown ability. Anderson has 4.45 significant strikes landed per minute to just 3.44 SIG STR LPM for Blachowicz, while the latter does hold a slight advantage in Significant Strike Accuracy percentage at 49.05-46.37. However, Anderson is also much better at getting people to the ground, posting a 4.98 takedown average to just 1.18 for the Pole.
Roll with Anderson (-228) to win on the 2-way line, and perhaps pair it with another fight or two in a parlay for less risk. Some suggestions for a parlay might be Ray Borg (-154) over Rogerio Bontorin (+115), and if you’re a little more risky, pair Anderson with slight underdog Lando Vannata (-106) against Yancy Medeiros (-125), or put Anderson, Borg and Vannata in a nice three-fighter parlay for an even better payday. I plan on playing this ticket during my stay at the MGM Grand in Vegas this weekend.
New to sports betting? A $10 3-fighter parlay on Anderson (-228), Borg (-154) and Vannata (-106) would have a potential payout (inc stake) of $46.33 at +363.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Ray Borg said he has no good reason for missing weight at UFC on ESPN+ 25.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] said he has no good reason for missing weight at UFC on ESPN+ 25, other than the fact his body simply wouldn’t shed the weight.
Borg (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) came in over the non-title flyweight limit by two pounds at Friday’s official weigh-in, and instantly the former title challenger was criticized. Not only was it the fourth time in Borg’s UFC tenure that he’s missed the mark, but the latest mishap came just 10 months after he promised he’d never be in this situation again.
In April 2019, Borg said he would “leave the sport of MMA forever” if he missed weight again, and while he recognized those comments in a statement released following weigh-ins, he said his focus at the moment is centered on the fight (via Instagram):
Wish I had an excuse but I don’t, my camp knows that this is the most disciplined I have ever been during camp, weight was good all camp and all week. I stayed in contact with the crew at the UFC PI all week and followed all their protocols. The more we started cutting the less that started to come off, we were dedicated to making the weight and took the extra hour they gave us and did what we could with it. We asked for more time with all the intentions in the world to make the weight but unfortunately they only allowed us an hour. We still have a fight to win tomorrow and all my focus is on that, I was so confident in my ability to make weight that I even vowed to retire if I missed weight again, which is a subject that currently is not on my mind at the moment . I will put on a good show for my home town tomorrow night, thank you to my team for all the help along with my manager and the rest of my crew that was apart of this camp. Sorry to my opponent and his Team for the unprofessionalism and hope to put on a good show tomorrow.
Borg was fined 30 percent of his purse for missing weight. His fight against Rogerio Bontorin (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will proceed as planned, but now be contested at a catchweight.
What the future holds for Borg remains to be seen, but there’s now an even greater importance on getting a win at UFC on ESPN+ 25, which takes place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., and streams on ESPN+.
Ray Borg drew a line in the sand 10 months ago when it came to missing weight in his MMA career. On Friday, he crossed that line.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] drew a line in the sand 10 months ago when it came to missing weight in his MMA career. On Friday, he crossed that line.
Borg (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) missed the flyweight limit by two pounds for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 25 matchup with Rogerio Bontorin (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), breaking an ultimatum the former title challenger set for himself regarding never missing weight again for one of his fights. It’s the fourth time in his UFC career he’s come in over the mark.
In April 2019, Borg took to his social media and vowed that he would never come in above his contracted weight again, or retire from competition if he did.
“I also want it to go on record that if I ever miss weight again or miss a fight due to anything other than a serious injury I will leave the sport of MMA forever,” Borg wrote at the time. “I’m coming back better than ever.”
[lawrence-related id=489819,489809]
During Thursday’s media day, Borg told MMA Junkie that making weight was not a concern. He described a change in his dietary approach that allowed him to get back down to flyweight after spending his past two fights in the bantamweight division.
Borg was among the last to step on the scale for Friday’s UFC on ESPN+ 25 official weigh-in and was even granted an extra hour after coming in at 128 pounds on his first attempt. He took that hour but did not lose any poundage, coming in at 128 again on his second attempt.
In the aftermath of Borg’s miss, Bontorin accepted a catchweight fight and 30 percent fine from Borg’s purse.
Now it remains to be seen if UFC on ESPN+ 25, which takes place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., and streams on ESPN+, will be the final fight of Borg’s career.
In the main event, [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) takes on [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in a fight that will see the winner stay in the light heavyweight title picture for a possible meeting with champion Jon Jones. Anderson is more than a 2-1 favorite from the oddsmakers, and he has a big 12-2 lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-main event, [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (23-10 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on longtime Albuquerque resident [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) at welterweight. Pereira is the slight favorite, and he’s got a 9-5 edge in the picks.
There’s a unanimous pick on the card, and another that nearly is unanimous. [autotag]Montana De La Rosa[/autotag] (10-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is a -175 favorite over [autotag]Mara Romero Borella[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) in their women’s flyweight fight. But despite fairly close betting odds, De La Rosa, whose husband Mark De La Rosa fights on the prelims, is a 14-0 pick from our staff.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Brok Weaver[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) nearly is a unanimous pick in his lightweight fight against [autotag]Kazula Vargas[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC). Only one of our pickers is taking Vargas in an upset – Weaver nearly is a 3-1 favorite.
[autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) takes on [autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a flyweight fight that was moved up to the main card from the prelims mid-week. The fight is one of our two most contentious ones with Borg at a 9-5 lead.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Yancy Medeiros[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Lando Vannata[/autotag] (10-4-2 MMA, 2-4-2 UFC) in a lightweight fight that is a near pick’em at the sportsbooks. But it’s Medeiros who has a whopping 12-2 lead in the picks with only two staff members taking Vannata.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Anderson (57 percent), Pereira (58 percent), De La Rosa (83 percent), Weaver (71 percent), Borg (61 percent) and Medeiros (62 percent) are the choices.
In 2014, Ray Borg wasn’t a part of the UFC’s inaugural event in New Mexico despite being on the promotion’s roster.
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.”
[lawrence-related id=489614,489353]
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.
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 bantamweight bout is the latest edition to the UFC’s February return to New Mexico.
A bantamweight bout is the latest edition to the UFC’s February return to New Mexico.
Former flyweight title challenger [autotag]Ray Borg[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is set to take on [autotag]Rogerio Bontorin[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) when the UFC sets up shop in Rio Rancho, N.M., a person with knowledge of the booking told MMA Junkie. The person requested anonymity because the UFC hasn’t made a formal announcement. News of the fight first was reported on Twitter by Jorge Hernandez.
The UFC’s Rio Rancho event, likely to be a “Fight Night,” takes place Feb. 15 at Santa Ana Star Center. The card is likely to stream on ESPN+.
Borg got back in the win column in July with a unanimous decision victory over Gabriel Silva at UFC on ESPN 4. In February, he dropped a decision to Casey Kenney at UFC on ESPN 2 in a fight that saw him move up from flyweight to bantamweight – though he missed weight for the bout. That fight was his return after nearly 18 months away following his loss to then-flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in a UFC 216 title fight.
Rogerio Bontorin
Bontorin earned his way into the UFC with a submission win over Gustavo Gabriel in a Dana White’s Contender Series fight in 2018. When he got his official promotional debut at UFC on ESPN+ 2 in February, he took a split call from Magomed Bibulatov. He followed that up in August with a first-round TKO of Raulian Paiva at UFC on ESPN+ 14.
