Ray Borg improved to 2-0 since leaving the UFC with a strong comeback win over Cody Gibson at Eagle FC 44.
After falling behind early, Borg (15-5) went to his grappling and managed to grind his way to a unanimous decision win over Gibson (18-8) in the bantamweight bout on Friday at the FLXcast Arena in Miami. The scores were 29-27, 29-27 and 29-28.
Fight of the Year in our first US event ever? We'll take it.
Hats off to @tazmexufc and @therenegade559 👏 #EagleFC44 pic.twitter.com/ePMCvhtz0U
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
Gibson opened the fight very strong, picking Borg apart with strikes over the first round and looking like the superior fighter by a large margin.
It was more of the same to begin Round 2, with all the momentum in Gibson’s favor. Borg landed a hard punch and a glancing spinning kick that took something away from Gibson, though, then he went to the grappling to dominate the remainder of the round from top position.
Now Borg answers with a spinning wheel kick to the head, gets taken down and reverses position!
What a fight! #EagleFC44 pic.twitter.com/95ABqXA6t1
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
With the fight hanging in the balance going into Round 3, Borg went straight back to the takedown and put Gibson on his back. He was heavy from on top, and he bloodied and battered Gibson until the fight came to an end.
Ray Borg is a man POSSESSED in round 3! UNBELIEVABLE! #EagleFC44 | @TazMexUFC pic.twitter.com/jYbuIbX40f
— Eagle Fight Club (@EagleFightClub) January 29, 2022
Borg unceremoniously made his exit from the UFC following his final octagon appearance in May 2020. His tenure with the promotion was filled with weight issues, personal adversity and injuries. He’s still just 28, though, and now has won four of his past five fights.
“For me it’s getting this win for my son, getting a win for my team and showing I’m one of the best in the world no matter where I’m at, no matter who I’m fighting,” Borg said in his post-fight interview with Henry Cejudo.
