Top 10 bantamweight nearly ready for return, hopeful for this fall.
Rob Font is one of the most exciting bantamweights in the UFC’s 135lb division, which is chock full of excitement. Font suffered a torn meniscus and ACL injury at the end of the second round of his victory over Ricky Simon last December. A unanimous decision victory, Font knew something was wrong, but didn’t realize how badly until leaving the cage.
“I felt it, I knew something went, kept stomping my foot to see if I was good” Font told Cageside Press recently. “I knew I needed to focus for five minutes, I didn’t think about it for five minutes. I definitely felt it walking out of the octagon, it was throbbing.”
Rob Font just returned from the infamous Fight Island, after cornering his teammate Calvin Kattar. Kattar defeated Dan Ige in the main event of UFC Fight Island 1. Font is a usual cornermen for the featherweight title contender, and good friend of Kattar, but Font couldn’t help but wish he was joining Kattar on the fight card.
“Anytime I coach, I’m locked in, I wanna fight every time I’m out there near the cage,” Font told us. “But this was Calvin’s time, his opportunity, we were locked in. Coaching and fighting is the same for me, same mindset.”
Font is looking forward to getting back into the cage as soon as he can. With a 10 next to his name in he divisional rankings, Font knows he has some exciting opponents that’ll be ready for him when he is set to return — hopefully late fall if all works out.
“I’m on schedule, probably ahead of schedule. I’m looking at November or December at the latest” Font explained. “Anyone and everyone excites me. Division is on fire. I’m focusing on physical therapy right now, but all I know is I’m coming back to a solid fight and a big name when I return.”
The bantamweight division has never been stronger. It boasts arguably the deepest top ten in the UFC. Font has been watching as a new champion was crowned and top contenders have formed. Cody Garbrandt’s return KO of Assuncao. Petr Yan’s impressive championship performance. Sean O’Malley and Aljamain Sterling’s impressive victories. There’s plenty of top tier talent in the division.
“Yan fought a great fight, Aldo looked good. Probably could have stopped that one a little bit earlier, but good for him a big performance,” said Font. “I’m watching all these fights, all these contenders.”
Font is focused on the knee recovery and would welcome all names that could come his way, but it is hard to not get excited for some of the legendary names that are possible. Font knows that the bigger the name, the bigger the fight, which only makes his health more important.
“I could share the cage with Aldo, I could share the cage with Frankie Edgar” Font told Cageside Press. “Who would have thought I’d share the cage with Aldo or Edgar in my career? T.J. [Dillashaw] will be back soon, [Dominick] Cruz is still here, some big names. All I know is my comeback fight will be with a name like that, which means I need to be at a championship level and get my leg right.”
Font is a member of the New England Cartel, a fighter out of Boston, the City of Champions. With the NHL and NBA set to resume play, and the MLB beginning, I asked Font who has the best shot at bringing another title to Boston. His answer was simple.
“They are all from Boston, never count us out, all of them can win. Calvin Kattar is bringing home the next title to Boston.”
Check out our full interview with Boston-based contender Rob Font in the above video. Font currently stands at number 10 in the bantamweight rankings with a 17-4 professional record.
