Jessica Borga

Last updated

Jessica Borga
Born (1989-12-18) December 18, 1989 (age 35)
Lakeland, Florida, United States
Other namesThe Black Widow
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight136 lb (62 kg; 9.7 st)
Division Featherweight (2018-present)
Bantamweight (2025)
Reach Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out ofLakeland, Florida, United States
TeamChampions Mixed Martial Arts
Years active2022–present (bare-knuckle boxing)
2018-2021 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total7
Wins3
By knockout2
By submission1
Losses4
By knockout2
By decision2
Bareknuckle boxing record
Total4
Wins3
By knockout2
Losses1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Jessica Borga (born December 18, 1989) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in the women's featherweight division, where she is the current and inaugural BKFC Women's Featherweight Champion. As a mixed martial artist, she most notably competed in Bellator MMA.

Contents

Background

Borga was born in Lakeland, Florida, United States. Her father worked as a police officer. When she was young, her brother had been killed in a car accident. [1] She had gotten into fights in school, often defending those who were unable to defend themselves. [2] After her father's death, Borga discovered a gym called Champions Mixed Martial Arts and signed up with it. After a month of training, she became pregnant and subsequently had her first son before resuming training a few years later. [1]

Mixed martial arts career

Borga competed in amateur MMA from 2015 to 2017 and posted a 6-4 record. She made her professional MMA career against Premier FC 25 on March 10, 2018, at Premier FC 25, winning the bout by TKO. She then won two more bouts and lost one, also all by TKO. [3]

Borga faced Amber Leibrock on September 7, 2019, at Bellator 226. She won the bout via first round armbar submission. [4]

Borga was scheduled to face Marina Mokhnatkina on December 10, 2020 at Bellator 254. The bout was cancelled for unknown reasons. [5]

Borga faced Talita Nogueira on April 9, 2021 at Bellator 256. [6] She lost the bout via a unanimous decision, even with Nogueira's one point deduction in the second round due to an illegal blow to the back of Borga's head. [7]

Borga faced Leah McCourt on 1 October 2021 at Bellator 267. She lost the one-sided bout via unanimous decision. [8]

Bare-knuckle boxing career

Making her bare-knuckle boxing and BKFC debut, Borga was scheduled to face Brooke Gilley on November 5, 2022, at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 32: Orlando. [9] [10] However, Gilley withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Sarah Click. [11] Borga won the bout by knockout in the first round. [11]

Borga faced Katharina Lehner on April 12, 2024 at BKFC Fight Night Clearwater. [12] She won the bout by knockout in the first round. [13] [14]

Borga faced Hannah Rankin for the inaugural BKFC Women's Featherweight Championship at BKFC 72 Dubai: Day 2 on April 5, 2025 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium in Dubai, UAE. [15] She won the fight by knockout in the first round to become the inaugural champion. [16] [17]

Borga faced Christine Ferea for the inaugural "Queen of Violence" title in a bantamweight bout at BKFC 82 on October 4, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. [18] [19] She lost the fight by technical knockout in the fourth round. [20]

Personal life

Borga is married and has three children. [21]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
7 matches3 wins4 losses
By knockout22
By submission10
By decision02
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss3–4 Leah McCourt Decision (unanimous) Bellator 267 October 1, 202135:00 London, England
Loss3–3 Talita Nogueira Decision (unanimous) Bellator 256 April 9, 202135:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesNogueira was deducted one point in round 2 due to repeated blows to the back of the head.
Win3–2 Amber Leibrock Submission (armbar) Bellator 226 September 7, 201914:45 San Jose, California, United States
Win2–2 Lucie Bertaud TKO (punches) Titan FC 54 April 26, 201913:36 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Loss1–2 Shanna Young Submission (punches)Valor Fighting Challenge 54January 19, 201933:24 Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Win1–1Hayley TurnerTKO (punches)Battleground MMAMay 20, 201713:39 Largo, Florida, United States
Loss0–1Sarah PayantTKO (punches)Premier FC 25March 10, 201821:33 Agawam, Massachusetts, United StatesFeatherweight debut.

Bare knuckle record

Professional record breakdown
4 matches3 wins1 loss
By knockout31
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss3–1 Christine Ferea KO (punch) BKFC 82 October 4, 202540:26 Newark, New Jersey, United StatesBantamweight debut. For the symbolic Queen of Violence championship.
Win3–0 Hannah Rankin KO BKFC 72 Dubai: Day 2 April 5, 202510:32 Dubai, United Arab EmiratesWon the inaugural BKFC Women's Featherweight Championship.
Win2–0 Katharina Lehner KO (punch) BKFC Fight Night: Clearwater April 12, 202410:53 Clearwater, Florida, United States
Win1–0Sarah ClickKO (punches) BKFC 32 November 5, 202211:15 Orlando, Florida, United States

References

  1. 1 2 Boone, Amber (November 4, 2015). "Breakthrough MMA 18's Jessica Borga: MMA Mirrors Life". Combat Press. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015.
  2. "Bellator Star Jessica Borga Explains Her Roots and Passion for MMA". Muscle & Fitness. February 15, 2022. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022.
  3. "Jessica Borga". Sherdog. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  4. Sherdog.com. "Bellator 226 Highlight Video: Jessica Borga Taps Amber Leibrock". Sherdog. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  5. "Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Jessica Borga removed from Bellator 254". MyMMANews.com. December 1, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  6. "Fight booking wire (March 22–28): Nogueira-Borga, Law-Ghareeb added to Bellator 256". MMA Junkie. March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  7. "Bellator 256 'Bader vs. Machida 2' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  8. Anderson, Jay (October 1, 2021). "Bellator 267 Results: Leah McCourt Wins One-Sided Decision Over Jessica Borga". Cageside Press. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  9. "BKFC 32 set for Orlando with bantamweight headliner, debut of former Bellator fighter Jessica Borga". MMA Junkie. October 5, 2022.
  10. "Brooke Gilley to Make Her Bare Knuckle Debut against Jessica Borga at BKFC 32". Fightbook MMA. October 4, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Quiggin' Out MMA Podcast Ep. 69: Jessica 'The Black Widow' Borga". Combat Press. April 27, 2023.
  12. "BKFC Fight Night Clearwater". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  13. "BKFC Fight Night: Clearwater Results". Combat Press. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  14. Dan Kuhl (November 5, 2022). "BKFC 32 RESULTS: BARNETT HANDLES HERRERA FOR THE WIN". combatpress.com.
  15. Iskenderov, Parviz (February 19, 2025). "BKFC Dubai: Britain Hart faces Tai Emery, Hannah Rankin meets Jessica Borga". FIGHTMAG.
  16. Iskenderov, Parviz (April 6, 2025). "Kai Stewart defeats Tommy Strydom to retain 145-pound title at BKFC 72". FIGHTMAG.
  17. "Jessica Borga Sleeps Hannah Rankin in 32 Seconds to Win Inaugural Featherweight Title – BKFC 72 Highlights". lowkickmma.com. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  18. "BKFC 82: Christine Ferea faces Jessica Borga, Frankie Edgar meets Jimmie Rivera". FIGHTMAG. August 20, 2025.
  19. "BKFC Announces Inaugural 'Queen of Violence' Title FightBetween Two Champions". KO On SI. August 15, 2025.
  20. Jaren Kawada (October 4, 2025). "BKFC 82 Results: Mike Perry Defends King of Violence Title Against Jeremy Stephens". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  21. "Check Out Jessica Borga's Story". VoyageTampa. November 5, 2025. Archived from the original on December 3, 2025.