Johnson-Borg, Nunes-Shevchenko title fights added to UFC 215 in Edmonton
Two title fights have been booked for the UFC’s first trip to Edmonton.
A pair of title fights have been added to the UFC’s debut event in Edmonton, Canada.
Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is set to meet Ray Borg in a record-breaking title defense in the main event, and women’s bantamweight titleholder Amanda Nunes’ rematch with Valentina Shevchenko has been rescheduled for the evening’s co-feature.
UFC officials confirmed the news Thursday after a report from TSN. Combate first reported the women’s title fight earlier this week.
Johnson has defended his 125-pound strap 10 times. His most recent win, a submission over jiu-jitsu ace Wilson Reis, tied the record for most consecutive title defenses, held by former middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Borg has won two in a row. In his last fight, he upset top contender Jussier Formiga at UFC Fight Night 106. Prior to that, he defeated Louis Smolka by decision in December.
The UFC wanted Johnson to fight ex-bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, but “Mighty Mouse” was adamant he wanted to fight the No. 1 contender, Borg, and eventually got his wish after a back-and-forth with the UFC and its president, Dana White. Dillashaw later moved his focus back to Cody Garbrandt and the rest of the UFC 135-pound division.
Nunes defended her title for the first time against former champ Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 late last year in under a minute. She captured the belt with a quick stoppage win over Miesha Tate in the main event of UFC 200 last summer.
Shevchenko has won two straight. Most recently, she tapped out Julianna Pena in a presumed No. 1 contender bout. She outpointed former women’s bantamweight champ Holly Holm last summer in the main event of a UFC on FOX show in July 2016.
Nunes and Shevchenko have met once before. In a non-title fight, the Brazilian handed “Bullet” her first UFC loss at UFC 196 in early 2016. Nunes was supposed to defend her title against Shevchenko earlier this month at UFC 213, but pulled out on fight day after she was hospitalized with chronic sinusitis.
UFC 215 takes place live from Rogers Place on Sept. 9.