Rob Font aims to put away “durable, rangy” Marlon Vera at UFC Vegas 53

It’s another main event against another tough guy and that’s just how Rob Font likes it.

Font is coming off a loss and looking to get back in the win column. To do so, he must derail the momentum of Marlon “Chito” Vera who enters on a two-fight winning streak. Despite fighting backward in the rankings, Font is embracing what this moment at UFC Vegas 53 represents.

A strong win here could go a long way as the bantamweight hierarchy of Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan, and TJ Dillashaw plays out a bit more. Also, Jose Aldo, a man who has notched wins over Font and Vera, is in the picture and the weight category looks the deepest it has ever been.

That being said, the New England Cartel product is not thinking about the belt or anything beyond this stiff test in front of him that Vera presents.

Font is clearly a guy that studies the bantamweight class and stays abreast of the happenings at 135 pounds. The studious pugilist now directs that focus to Vera and is certainly familiarized with what awaits him when that cage door locks.

“He’s rangy. He’s been looking a lot better with his striking,” Font told The AllStar.”What I was doing, I thought he was more of a grappler but he’s looking real smooth with the striking. He’s definitely well-rounded and he’s tough. Obviously, he throws a lot of kicks. When you get close, he uses that Thai clinch.

“Throwing lots of elbows and getting dirty in there. Any chance he can get to that body lock, take you down, he’s been submitting guys as well. Overall this is a tough fight. So right back in it. Another five-round fight with another killer.”

The southpaw dynamics of Vera do little to dissuade Font here. In his estimation, an adeptness with switching stances is a bigger thing in martial arts and that versatile stance switch approach is more commonplace in mixed martial arts than say Queensberry Rules boxing.

Font has been on this UFC journey for close to eight years since he made his Octagon debut at UFC 175 in July 2014. He has faced a murderer’s row as he has advanced through his promotional tenure.

Font continues to fill out that stacked resume on April 30th from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. His prediction for this one indicated respect-oriented mindfulness of Vera but also strong personal confidence underpinning things.

“So Vera’s tough and he doesn’t get finished at all. So the goal is to get in there and finish him. Obviously, I would love to get in there and outclass him. But to finish him would be just the icing on the cake that I need right now to bounce back off a W.”

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Fighter profile

Rob Font is a 34-year-old male fighter from the United States with 19 pro wins and 5 losses. Font is scheduled to fight Marlon Vera at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera on Saturday April 30, 2022.

Rob Font’s recent form coming into this matchup

Rob Font has gone 4-1 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.

• Loss vs José Aldo • Decision R5 5:00 • 2021-12-04
• Win vs Cody Garbrandt • Decision R5 5:00 • 2021-05-22
• Win vs Marlon Moraes • KO/TKO R1 3:47 • 2020-12-19
• Win vs Ricky Simón • Decision R3 5:00 • 2019-12-07
• Win vs Sergio Pettis • Decision R3 5:00 • 2018-12-15

Rob Font’s next opponent: Marlon “Chito” Vera

Marlon “Chito” Vera’s recent form coming into this matchup

Marlon “Chito” Vera is a 29-year-old male fighter from Ecuador with 20 pro wins and 7 losses. Vera is scheduled to fight Rob Font at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera on Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Marlon Vera has gone 3-2 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.

• Win vs Frankie Edgar • KO/TKO R3 3:50 • 2021-11-06
• Win vs Davey Grant • Decision R3 5:00 • 2021-06-19
• Loss vs José Aldo • Decision R3 5:00 • 2020-12-19
• Win vs Sean O’Malley • KO/TKO R1 4:40 • 2020-08-15
• Loss vs Yadong Song • Decision R3 5:00 • 2020-05-16

How to watch and bet on Rob Font vs Marlon Vera