Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Ray Borg has been forced out of his scheduled showdown against Merab Dvalishvili, which was set to go down at UFC on ESPN 10 this Saturday night (June 13, 2020) inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
No exact reason was given, though Borg did say it was for personal reasons. He later took to Twitter to post a message to his son, who has had medical issues from a very young age, though what exactly is going on this time around is unknown.
Family first, see you soon son. pic.twitter.com/sql3RqsmK4
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) June 11, 2020
Early reports had Combate Americas Bantamweight champion, Gustavo Lopez, pegged as Ray’s replacement. A while later, another report revealed that Lopez was still under contract with Combate. Company owner, Campbell McLaren, took to social media to take a dig at his champ.
“Bad move from Gustavo Lopez he’s under contract with Combate Americas,” he wrote.
Minutes later, Gustavo’s manager chimed in by saying the mistake was on his part, and revealed that he asked for his client to be released from his contract so that he could proceed with the fight.
As a manager, I have made a mistake and @combateamericas does indeed have matching right to @Gustavo11Lopez and I have officially requested his release for him to fight this weekend in the UFC in Las Vegas. @campbellcombate
— Daniel Rubenstein (@dannyrube) June 11, 2020
An hour later, McLaren announced that the promotion had granted Lopez his release so that he would be allowed to compete on Saturday.
“Combate Americas has decided to allow Gustavo Lopez to move forward and fight in the UFC this Saturday night,” he wrote. “We wish him the best of luck with the rest of his career.”
We have a fight!