UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje - Predictions and Picks

#8 The Prelims: ESPN+ card

Former Flyweight title challenger Ray Borg makes his Bantamweight debut this weekend

The early prelims for this show will be shown on the ESPN+ streaming service, rather than Fight Pass – an interesting move that makes me wonder about the future of that service, but that’s another article.

Topping the bill, reportedly at least, is a Bantamweight fight between former Flyweight title challenger Ray Borg and a late replacement opponent, Casey Kenney. Kenney looks like an excellent prospect – he’s 11-1 and was a dual-weight champion in LFA, but as a natural Flyweight I find it hard to see him defeating Borg, who’s an excellent fighter in all areas, even beating Jussier Formiga in 2017.

I think Borg outworks him for either a submission or decision.

At Strawweight, Maryna Moroz faces newcomer Sabina Mazo, a student of Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA. Mazo looks like an interesting prospect, and the fact that she has two 5-round decision victories on her ledger bodes well, but the fact that she’s a striker worries me in a fight with the rangy Moroz, who’s only really lost to grapplers and a fellow long striker in Angela Hill. I like Moroz to use her striking to win a decision here.

Finally, Alex Perez takes on Mark De La Rosa at Bantamweight. It’s an intriguing one as Perez had a lot of hype around him going into his fight with Joseph Benavidez, but was pretty violently stopped in the end, while De La Rosa is a solid 2-1 in the UFC thus far. I like Perez here though, from what I’ve seen he seems slightly better in all areas, and I’ll take him to use his striking for a late TKO.