Bantamweights Rob Font and Kyler Phillips faced off in what fans hoped was an explosive co-main event at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 99.
Ahead of the bout, Font had stated that he hoped a trip to hospital following the fight would not be required — but he was willing to go that route if need be. He had also added Firas Zahabi, of TriStar fame, to his corner.
Both fighters got right to work as Phillips thru out a low leg kick. Kyler was able to get in on a single leg shortly after and grapple his opponent to the ground. Phillips nearly effortlessly moved to side control, while landing short strikes. About two minutes into the fight and Kyler started to attack the arm and shoulder. Once that got Font’s attention, he began raining down a couple of well-placed elbows. Phillips continued to look to advance position. With a little over a minute left in the round, Font found a way back to his feet during a failed submission attempt.
Once the fight was standing again, Kyler looked a tad sluggish, moving his feet along the cage and throwing lots of kicks. Font shot in deep on a takedown and after a brief stalemate against the cage, the round ended seeing a short striking exchange on the feet.
The second round saw Font stalking his opponent looking to land his big right hand. Phillips evaded for a few seconds before lining up a well-timed takedown. Font was able to pop up a few moments later. Phillips was back on his bike, moving his feet, circling around the octagon. Font would follow, and crash in with a boxing combination once within range. With a couple minutes left in the round, Rob began to really find a home for that long right hand as Kyler faded out of range. In the final minute of the round Kyler finally started to throw back a little, from the clinch. But he was ultimately was heavily out struck and outpaced over the course of the round. At the last second of the round Kyler was able to score a little dump takedown.
Kyler came out with his wrestling singlet on a shot for a takedown almost immediately to open the third. Font was able to work out of the takedown and began to go back to walking down his opponent. Rob was able to score on multi punch combinations, bouncing his opponents head up and back as he retreated. About midway through the round Phillips lands a leg kick that partially buckles Font. After a short spat in the clinch Rob is back to landing jab-led combinations.
Phillips looked extremely tired as he over committed on a punch a fought off the subsequent takedown attempt. With seconds left in the round Font continued to come forward crashing into his opponent still looking for that big right hand. The fight would end with Kyler attempting one last takedown to sort of slow the pace as time expired. With the scorecards revealed, all three judges had awarded the fight to Rob Font, with triplicate 29-28 scores.
Official Result: Rob Font def. Kyler Phillips by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
