Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Teixeira vs. St. Preux’

---

Flyweights

Ray Borg (8-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Geane Herrera (8-0, 0-0 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: The 21-year-old Borg returns to action against the debuting Herrera in a fun flyweight matchup. Borg gave Dustin Ortiz everything he could handle in his debut, and since then has submitted Shane Howell and Chris Kelades. He looks like one of the brightest prospects in a division that desperately needs elite talent. Herrera is only 25 and has beaten solid competition on the regional scene.

Borg is a tremendous athlete with great speed and explosiveness, which makes his transition-based game all the more effective. He is a true native of MMA rather than a convert from another combat sport, and he is a master at shifting from one phase to another. Strikes flow into takedowns, takedowns blend seamlessly into scrambles on the mat and scrambles lead directly to positional advancements. If forced to fight in any individual phase for long, opponents can exploit the shallowness of Borg’s skill sets: He does not throw much volume on the feet, has a limited arsenal of takedowns and relies heavily on scrambles. When he puts them together, however, he is a monster.

Herrera is exceptionally fast, strong and hits with obvious power, and he has the kind of rare athletic gifts that leap off the screen. Aggression is the foundation of his game, and he stalks his opponents behind single power shots and the occasional combination. His range striking is mostly a bridge to the clinch, where he thrives. In the tie-ups, Herrera puts his size and strength to good use with a wicked double-collar tie and sharp knees and elbows. While he can hit the occasional high-amplitude takedown, he is not adept at defending his opponents’ shots and has consistently been put on the mat. To some extent, he makes up for that deficiency in defensive wrestling with an aggressive guard and an ability to create and win scrambles on the mat.

BETTING ODDS: Borg (-475), Herrera (+375)

THE PICK: Herrera is a legitimate prospect who could turn into an elite talent, particularly if he moves to a high-profile camp. This is a brutal debut, however, and Borg’s ability to cover his takedowns with strikes and superior skill in the scrambles should be the difference here. The pick is Borg by submission in the second round after a competitive, back-and-forth first.

Last Fights » The Prelims