BKFC Featherweight Champion Jessica Borga Welcomes All, Including Cyborg

New BKFC Featherweight Champ, Jessica Borga "The Black Widow"

The VIP Crew: The Black Widow,” living up to your name because you have been lethal.

How are you doing?

Borga: It’s going amazing. Thanks for having me on.

The VIP Crew: Absolutely! Congratulations on joining only Savannah Marshall in knockout out Hannah Rankin. That had to be an amazing feeling.

Borga: It was surreal, man. It still hits you after doing something so big. Working your butt off for this long, to do something that really made a mark over that caliber of fighter, who went the distance with Claressa Shields, it is surreal.

The VIP Crew: You were letting them hands fly. Were you somewhat shocked at Rankin’s approach given your knockout power?

Borga: Honestly, I wasn’t expecting her to come in and try to be the bigger bully like she did. I thought she would think her strength would be boxing, so I thought she would try to outbox me. I could see why her team would think that maybe, because I’m usually the bigger bull. So, I guess they thought they would make me uncomfortable if I had to take on a role where I wasn’t the bigger bull. They don’t know me very well (laughing). It could have gone better. I saw the openings. I hurt her with a jab. I don’t know if anyone saw that part. I saw it in her eyes when I hurt her with the jab. She wasn’t herself after that, and then she started coming in and giving me the opportunity to double up on that too.

The VIP Crew: In the process of knocking out Rankin, you became the BKFC featherweight champion. Does becoming champion add pressure or fuel to your approach?

Borga: I don’t feel the pressure. I know I have a target on my back, but I feel like I have always had the same pressure. I’ve always trained as if I was the champion and had the mindset as if I was the champion. I kind of like the pressure. That is not too much for me. It builds you and makes you stronger. I have the fuel. More fuel to defend it and honestly, I’m going to retire undefeated.

The VIP Crew: You’re off to a great start. You are 3-0 with 3 knockouts, and less than 3 minutes total ring time during those three fights. You obviously don’t get paid overtime.

Borga: (Laughing). I made the joke; I don’t get paid by the hour. Apparently, I don’t get paid by the minute (laughing). I just feel natural in there. It’s where my home is. I have never felt the same from even my first bareknuckle fight. I’m more comfortable than I did with MMA. Felt more at home since the beginning.

The VIP Crew: When you are brutally knocking these women out, I’m sure you enter every training camp and every fight expecting everyone’s best. No one wants to be on Jessica Borga’s highlight reel.

Borga: Absolutely! I expect that. I train as if I’m going against the best of the best. I want

them to be their best. Even Hannah said that she had never trained harder in her entire

career. I love that. That fuels me. Bring me your best.

The VIP Crew: I know you’re still enjoying the win from April, but what is next for you? I’m seeing people call for a super fight with Cris Cyborg. Is that something you would entertain?

Borga: I would love to fight Cyborg. I really wanna build the women’s division first, because when I fight Cyborg and beat her, I really don’t feel like anyone will be lining up to fight me then. I don’t want to keep celebrating my win from April. I’d rather have something confirmed. Unfortunately, there is nothing at the moment, but we are in the works of trying to get something. Even if it’s someone not wanting to fight for the title and it’s a catchweight, I’m open to just competing. I’m ready to fight.

They said they are bringing in more girls from all around the world. I really hope that is a thing. I do know that now that there is a belt, there will have to be a title contender fight and work their way up. It would have to be a big name that comes in and just fights for the title. I will fight anyone. I just want to fight, so I just want someone to step up.

The VIP Crew: Have you found a balance between parenthood, bareknuckle career, real estate, and entrepreneurship, or is that something you’re still navigating?

Borga: I’m very good about multitasking. I’m able to do a lot more than others that I have seen, but it’s still a learning process. I’m trying to navigate the best way. I never feel like I’m doing enough for my children, especially in fight camp. You have to be a little selfish, but it kills me to be that way. It’s hard to navigate that. I have three kids and they are all in their own sports, they all have their own stuff, and I can’t make it to every single one of them and it kills me. I hope they understand the sacrifice. Sometimes kids don’t understand the bigger picture until their older. I hope when they grow up they look back and see what I’m trying to do and what I’m doing.

The VIP Crew: Speaking of balancing, I feel like there is a very savage side to you and a very beautiful side to you. From a marketing standpoint how do you actively make both of those world’s collide for your benefit?

Borga: I’m bringing them together. I agree, the savage part of me, I love showing that side, but I also love showing the feminine side. I want to be the inspiration for women to say that you can do both. You don’t have to go with society’s norms. You can be a savage beauty. You can be a savage mother. You can be a beautiful mother. You can embrace all of your attributes and live life to the fullest.

The VIP Crew: Thank you so much for your time and I can’t wait to see you back in there doing your thing. Anything you want to add?

Borga: Thanks for having me on. Thanks to all my sponsors, my coaches, my team. Their making me more savage!