Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Editor’s Note: The article has been updated on 4:40 p.m. to reflect the new opponent for Dvalishvili. It was updated again at 5:20 p.m. to add a post from Borg.
The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Saturday has taken a hit, as Ray Borg has been forced to pull out of his scheduled match.
The news was announced at the end of UFC Virtual Media Day, after Merab Dvalishvili (10-4) and Borg (13-5) did not attend. According to UFC staff, Borg withdrew for personal reasons. He was set to face Dvalishvili at bantamweight, at the UFC on ESPN 10 event set to take place on June 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. This will be the eighth time that the hard-luck Borg has been forced to withdraw from a UFC fight, one shy of the record held by Thiago Alves.
Family first, see you soon son. pic.twitter.com/sql3RqsmK4
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) June 11, 2020
After the MMA community piled on Borg for withdrawing from his fight without knowing a reason other than that it was personal, Borg put out a statement of sorts on his Twitter page. He posted a picture of his son Anthony, who was born with the rare condition hydrocephalus (an excess of fluid in the brain), and wrote, “Family first, see you soon son.”
Borg competed less than a month ago at UFC Fight Night 171, and dropped a close split verdict to Ricky Simon that snapped a two-fight win streak. The former flyweight title challenger returned to bantamweight after a history of missing weight at 125 pounds, although Borg is one of a small number of fighters to come in heavy in multiple weight classes. The New Mexican known as “The Taxmexican Devil” has reached the third round or later in each of his last 10 outings.
Dvalishvili is expected to face a short-notice replacement, as a UFC official stated that a replacement is being sought for the Georgian. In his last three fights dating back to 2018, Dvalishvili has won each by unanimous verdict. Starting his time with the UFC with a pair of defeats against Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon — the latter the latest finish in a three-round fight in UFC history at 5:00 of Round 3 — the Serra-Longo fighter has won ever since.
According to MMA Junkie, that replacement will be Combate Americas champ Gustavo Lopez. He and Dvalishvili will square off at a 140-pound catchweight, as Lopez accepted the fight a mere two days before it takes place. Lopez has finished his last three opponents in a combined 4:54, including a knockout of Jose Alday to capture the bantamweight title for that promotion. Lopez went on to defend it by laying waste to Joey Roquet in less than two minutes in August 2019.
UFC on ESPN 10 will go down on June 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Headlining the card is a women’s flyweight battle between Jessica Eye and Cynthia Calvillo. Serving as the co-main event is a middleweight grudge match between Marvin Vettori and Karl Roberson.