The Borg looks to open the night with fireworks against a prospect who could very easily steal his cybernetic thunder this August 8, 2015 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Match Up
Flyweight Ray Borg 8-1 vs. Geane Herrera 8-0
The Odds
Flyweight Ray Borg -470 vs. Geane Herrera +375
3 Things You Should Know
1. Ray Borg had a tough debut, but is an improving craftsman in the division who can only get better.
Borg is 2-0 in the UFC since losing to Dustin Ortiz, earning performance of the night bonuses in each of his two wins. The interesting thing about the prospect who turned 22 yesterday is that he’s walked the line with a solid grappling game. MMA is constantly evolving. There is what my reviewer in crime calls a ‘metagame’; the pugilist milieu that is prone to trends just like culture. Borg kind of bucks the trend with his style, but he’s no Aokian stereotype. Unfortunately for Borg, he’s being asked to counter someone with equal potential.
2. Herrera is a hell of a talent. That is all.
Herrera has spent time with Team Dark Side and Bill Banks, a trainer with a rather colorful past. With his undefeated record, mostly coming against opponents fighting for RFA, he hasn’t had a chance to be challenged much. His best win occurred against the well rounded grappler Josh Rave, who he beat in under five minutes. The talent’s there. But are the tactics?
3. Don’t look at the odds. This as competitive a fight on paper as you’ll find.
Trainer Bill Banks has an interesting jiu jitsu perspective. Despite his questionable past, I do like the idea that sport jiu jitsu requires a different philosophy. You see this play out in Herrera’s game. He has an uncanny knack for being able to scramble with purpose. A lot of guys can scramble. But they often scramble defensively, to get back up, or into top control. HerrerA scrambles for position right into submission. Being a great athlete makes all the difference, but it’s obvious he has a mind for this facet of the game.
On the feet, he’s a little counterintuitive. He keeps his jab active, but never really commits. His real strength on the feet is what he can do in close quarters. If he can sustain such an attack on Borg with his knees, Borg is in for a long night. Or perhaps a really short one. But Herrera’s flaw is that despite his grappling base, and aptitude, he’s fairly prone to the takedown.
Borg is a good athlete with a polished bit of wrestling that keeps his top control engine going. If Herrera were better or more imposing at range, I would actually favor him. But he’s not, and his preference for close quarter striking makes him more susceptible to Borg’s strategy. I’d expect a hell of a fight, but one I think Borg can manage more comfortably that Herrera will make it look.
Prediction
Herrera’s strength and technique will probably carry him through the first round in eye popping fashion. He may even land the same Judo throw that sent Rave sailing through the air. And it’s possible we get something like Issa vs. Alcantara for a round. But Borg should steadily find his comfort zone. Ray Borg by (Split) Decision).
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