The UFC has been dealt another blow as they will have to go without their main event for UFC 215. Ray Borg has been forced to withdraw from his bout against UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson due to an undisclosed illness. According to MMAFighting.com, Borg had been battling illness and was deemed unfit to fight by UFC medical professionals upon examination.
UFC 215 Main Event Canceled; Ray Borg Out with Injury
BREAKING: Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg UFC 215 main event canceled — https://t.co/wf5yc1u5gJ pic.twitter.com/0ipE4cvyud
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) September 8, 2017
UFC 215 Main Event Canceled; Ray Borg Out with Injury
With UFC 215 being only days away, anticipation was starting to build for the return of UFC Flyweight champion “Mighty Mouse”. Gaining popularity with every fight, this match was of utmost significance due to the historical context. Johnson, 31, was attempting to break the record for most consecutive UFC title defenses with his 11th championship bout against Borg.
With Johnson taking a strong stance on intending to only fight contenders who have earned their opportunities, it’s unlikely Johnson would even accept a short notice bout. Johnson voiced concerns recently about a potential fight with T.J Dillashaw; opting to fight contender Ray Borg instead.
With a late-replacement fighter filling in for Borg highly unlikely, expect Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko to be headlining UFC 215 in the UFC’s return to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This allows UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Nunes a unique opportunity to earn back the UFC’s good graces.
This is significant because Nunes pulled out of her previously scheduled bout with Shevchenko at UFC 213 just hours before the main event. This prompted UFC President Dana White to voice his displeasure with his Brazilian champion. “I won’t main event that title again,” said White post-UFC 213. Nunes will be looking to gain back lost credibility that could have been potentially lost with her decision to pull out of UFC 213
Ultimately, UFC flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson will have to wait until a later date to attempt to separate himself from Anderson “The Spider” Silva and claim the record for most consecutive UFC championship defenses.
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