UFC Vegas 53’s Rob Font: Experience in Five Round Fights Could Be Key

Las Vegas, NV — For bantamweight Rob Font, this weekend’s UFC Vegas 53 main event marks his third straight headlining slot with the promotion.

Having gone 1-1 in his last two outings — a win over Cody Garbrandt, a loss to Jose Aldo, both by unanimous decision — Font (19-5) believes the UFC sees him as a fighter they can rely on.

“Three back-to-back, three main events, especially against former champions. I think they trust me, I think they know I’m going to put on an exciting fight,” Font told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 53 media day. “I think they know I’m going to make weight, I’m going to show up and I’m going to handle business.”

The business this time around comes against Marlon “Chito” Vera, a gritty fighter and one that Font knows is hungry. “I know he’s going to bring the fight, so this is an exciting fight for me.”

Come fight night, however, it’s Font who may have an edge, thanks to his last couple of trips to the octagon. Font has gone the full twenty-five minutes twice in a row now; Vera himself has yet to compete in a five-round fight.

“Yeah, I do,” Font told Cageside Press when asked if he believed his experience in five-rounders could be a factor. “I do believe — when I did my first one, there was a point where I was like ‘hopefully we can go all five.’ And then when you do go all five, it’s like ‘alright I know I can push it.'”

“Also I think it all depends on how that first two rounds play out,” Font added. “If it’s a slower, technical fight, those extra rounds I wouldn’t say mean much. But if it’s up and down, slug ’em out, and you’ve still got three more rounds, that could change everything.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 53 media day appearance from Rob Font above. The event takes place this Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. More coverage can be found below.