Rivalries: Ray Borg

Talent has never been a question with Ray Borg.

The snakebitten Jackson-Wink MMA product will make his Eagle Fighting Championship debut opposite Cody Gibson in a three-round bantamweight attraction at EFC 44 this Friday at the FLX Arena in Miami. Borg, 28, has rattled off three victories across his past four outings. He last appeared at a UAE Warriors show on June 19, when he captured a unanimous decision over Jesse Arnett in the United Arab Emirates.

As Borgs makes final preparations for his forthcoming battle with Gibson, a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped shape his career:

Dustin Ortiz

Active hands carried the Roufusport export to a split decision over Borg in a UFC on Fox 11 flyweight prelim on April 9, 2014 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28: Hector Gomez for Borg, Derek Cleary and Chris Lee for Ortiz. Borg was exceptional in spurts. He delivered three slams in the 15-minute battle and transitioned to Ortiz’s back on multiple occasions. However, he was at his best in the second round, where he escaped from bottom position, struck for a takedown and moved to Ortiz’s back, threatening first with a rear-naked choke and then a neck crank. Ortiz survived and moved on to Round 3, where he popped the Tucson, Arizona, native with jabs and executed a pair of head kicks. Borg made one last push for victory, again moving to his counterpart’s back, but the finish he needed failed to materialize in the waning moments and his fate was left to the scorecards.

Louis Smolka

Borg leaned on takedowns, stifling control and ground-and-pound, as he took a unanimous decision from the Hawaiian in a UFC 207 flyweight showcase on Dec. 30, 2016 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26, all for “The Tazmexican Devil.” Smolka was never much of a factor. Borg repeatedly scrambled into top position, achieved full mount on two occasions, sliced and diced the former Pacific Xtreme Combat champion with ground-and-pound and threatened with arm-triangle chokes. Smolka struggled to keep up and more often than not found himself pinned underneath the relentless grappler. By the time they completed three rounds, Borg had piled up more than 10 minutes of control time and established himself as the superior fighter.

Jussier Formiga

The gifted Borg registered the most significant victory of his young career, as he pocketed a unanimous decision over the former Shooto Brazil champion in a closely contested UFC Fight Night 106 flyweight feature on March 11, 2007 at the Northeast Olympic Training Center in Fortaleza, Brazil. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28. Neither man gained a discernible advantage through the first 10 minutes. Round 3 was marked by wild and dramatic shifts in momentum. Formiga transitioned to mount inside 60 seconds and later scrambled into top position again before advancing to the back. He strengthened his advantage with a body triangle, but it was not enough to corral Borg. The New Mexico native twisted and turned until he was on top and dropped elbows in full guard, one of which cut Formiga near his left eye. Borg continued his progression and ultimately moved to the Brazilian’s back, and while a finish was never in play, he had nosed ahead at a most opportune time.

Demetrious Johnson

The incomparable “Mighty Mouse” authored another unimaginable finish, as he submitted Borg with a fifth-round armbar to retain his flyweight championship in the UFC 216 co-main event on Oct. 7, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Johnson drew the curtain 3:15 into Round 5. He dominated virtually every second of the match and did so like only he can. The longtime Matt Hume protege outstruck, outscrambled and outgrappled his game but overmatched challenger. Johnson transitioned from one superior position to the next, hunting the finish while battering Borg with elbows, punches and knees to the body. In the fifth round, he added to his legend. Johnson hoisted Borg into the air from the rear waistlock position and caught the armbar on the way down. Hopelessly entangled in the champion’s web, Borg fought to free himself before the pain became too much.