Let the countdown begin! Team Font has touched down in the city of lights, Las Vegas. With dad, mom, baby, and Kattar all present, the anticipation is palpable. Ready to step into the APEX this weekend is none other than Rob Font, the seasoned bantamweight contender, eager to compete against Kyler Phillips, one of the division's rising stars, in the art of the fight.
Last time Rob Font, the New England Cartel standout, found himself in this situation was back in April 2023. He squared off against hot prospect Adrian Yanez and ended the fight in under three minutes, earning his third Performance of the Night bonus. It's clear: experience is a game-changer. And Font is banking on this come Saturday.
"The experience part does play a little bit into it," said Font. "You learn how to stay calm in crazy moments. You learn how to win the fight a little better. My plan this time is to play the scorecards a little better. I learned that sometimes it's not about the finish, but about scoring points and maintaining the lead."
At 37, he's still a student of the sport, recognizing that no fighter walks into the octagon with all the answers. Font is determined to keep evolving, drawing inspiration from his partner, Kathryn, and their daughter, Emerald.
The Fonts are a tight-knit unit. They take the phrase "family that travels together, stays together" quite seriously. "I saw an Eminem quote where he said he wouldn't go on tour until his daughter was grown," said Font. "He didn't want to miss anything, because kids grow up so fast. Now that I'm a parent, I can truly understand that."
It's hard to believe that over a decade has passed since Font made his UFC debut with a first-round knockout of George Roop. Since then, he's faced off against world champions like Figueiredo, Cody Garbrandt, and Jose Aldo, as well as top contenders like Raphael Assuncao, Cory Sandhagen, and Marlon Vera, to name a few. This weekend, he's up against another strong contender, Phillips.
Font is more than ready, and knowing that he's fighting someone like himself, one of the best in the world at 135 pounds, has him even more fired up. Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling showdown at the APEX this weekend.
