Rob Font opened the UFC DC main card with a solid decision victory over the young Ricky Simon.
In bantamweight action on the UFC DC main card Saturday at the Capital One Arena, Rob Font finally got back in the Octagon, against Ricky Simon. Font had seen a fight with Cody Stamann fall through earlier this year, something that clearly still irked him during UFC DC’s fight week.
For the up-and-coming Simon, the fight was a chance to bounce back from a tough loss to legend Urijah Faber — and against a ranked opponent no less.
Font came out and took center. He was faking the kick and countered Simon with a right when he came in. Font then shot in and landed the takedown for a moment but Simon was quick to get back to his feet and worked the clinch again the cage and landed a nice knee on the break. Back in the center of the Octagon, Font was getting off first and Simon shot for his own takedown that Font defended. Font started to work the jab and work in feints to keep Simon guessing. Simon landed a nice left that hurt Font and then shot in for the take down, taking Font to the mat. Font worked to his feet but Simon landed a pair of knees before he took Font back to the mat. Font, again worked back to his feet and took the center of the cage and landed a nice combination off of his jab that drove Simon back. Simon recovered and again shot in and took Font to the mat, where he quickly took side control but Font worked free and made it back to his feet to exchange again but the horn sounded to end the round.
Both men opened by exchanging jabs and Font looked to press the action, Simon dropped levels and looked for the takedown but Font spun free. Font again looked to work the jab, he mixed in some leg kicks to Simon guessing. The two exchanged and Font landed a nice left that forced Simon to shoot in but font stuffed it and went back to strikes. Simon didn’t give up and after landing a hard punch drove through Font and took him to the mat but Font was quick to get back up and he landed a hard uppercut on the break. Font continued to touch Simon up with his jab before he landed a big right hand but Simon stayed with him and looked to engage. Font landed another hard right before Simon dropped down for the takedown and this time he got Font to the ground. It wasn’t for long, however, as Font worked back to his feet and then rushed forward with a flurry as the round came to a close.
Simon came out quickly, took the center of the cage and looked to land strikes. Simon landed a nice left hook before he dropped for the takedown, but Font shrugged it off. Font landed a hard 1-2 combination that made Simon back up for a moment before he pressed forward again and landed a hard body shot followed by an elbow. Simon then drove through for the takedown that for a moment Font looked to have defended but Simon stuck with it and took him to the mat. Simon worked from the top for a moment before Font worked back to his feet and they two again exchanged from center. Font landed a solid uppercut but Simon fired back with a 1-2. Simon pressed forward and Font landed a nice knee but Simon landed a nice punch in response. The round was almost over and Simon rushed forward with a flurry but font ducked and slipped away as the horn sounded to end the action.
Rob Font def. Ricky Simon by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
