UFC 215: Johnson vs. Borg main event called off, Nunes vs. Shevchenko takes headliner spot

Bengaluru, Sep 8: The UFC has officially ruled out Ray Borg from competition in Saturday's (September 9) UFC 215 headliner against Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson due to 'viral illness'.

News broke early Friday (September 8) morning that the scheduled main event for UFC 215, the championship bout between Johnson and Borg had been called off less than 12 hours before the fighters were set for the weigh-ins.

The assumption earlier was Borg, who has missed weight for two of his past four fights at 125 pounds, missed out yet again. However, the UFC intervened and stated that the organisation's medical team deemed Borg unfit to compete due to the illness.

With the removal of the planned main event, now the Nunes vs. Shevchenko Women's Bantamweight Championship bout will take the main event spot. And the UFC also added the customers who bought tickets for the pay-per-view can make a request for a full refund.

BREAKING: Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg UFC 215 main event canceled - https://t.co/foO0kmTR97 pic.twitter.com/fbxF0ze38J

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 8, 2017

Read the full statement released by the UFC on the cancellation of the Flyweight Championship bout,

"Due to a viral illness to UFC flyweight contender Ray Borg, the main event bout against champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 215 has been cancelled. Borg was deemed unfit to compete by the UFC medical team.

UFC 215, which is now headlined by the women's bantamweight championship between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, will proceed as scheduled with 11 bouts at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.

Moving to the Pay-Per-View main card will be the flyweight bout between Henry Cejudo and Wilson Reis. Additionally, the Mitch Clarke and Alex White lightweight contest will now kick off the FS1 prelims.

With the removal of Johnson vs. Borg, customers may request a full refund of purchased tickets at point of sale."

Due to an injury to Ray Borg, we now have a new main event at #UFC215! How do you feel about our "new" headliners? pic.twitter.com/VCReEipz8D

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 8, 2017