Seattle, WA — Although victorious, Rob Font perhaps got a little more fight than he expected at UFC Seattle, where he earned a split decision victory over a very game Jean Matsumoto.
“That kid’s strong, he was impressive, he was throwing some heavy leg kicks. He was in there the whole time,” Font (22-8) exclaimed following the bout, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press. “I thought he would break a little earlier, but there was no quit in that kid, man.”
Font was supposed to have faced UFC and WEC bantamweight legend Dominick Cruz at UFC Seattle, in what would have been Cruz’s retirement fight. An injury to Cruz, and his subsequent retirement, saw Matsumoto step in.
The win in Seattle makes it two straight for Font, who was the underdog in both cases. “I was an underdog in this one too? Get the— come on man, gotta put some respect on my name,” Font said with a laugh. As for where this win, which came at a 140lb catchweight thanks to Matsumoto stepping up on short notice, puts him, Font is hoping for another big fish.
“I hope. I hope. Obviously I went from fighting a GOAT like Dominick Cruz, to fighting a newcomer— not necessarily a newcomer, but a guy who only has two fights in the UFC, 16-0, really impressive. The kid is really good. Super strong, talented,” stated Font. “Two wins in a row hopefully gets me back in there with another top name, but we’ll find out soon.”
Font has been working at Montreal‘s famed TriStar Gym of late, and has been enjoying the city, though perhaps not the chilly Canadian winters that come with it. “The winter’s rough though, I swear to God, it snowed every day. But I do like Montreal. Firas [Zahabi, TriStar head coach] finally got the heater in the gym, so we’re chilling now.”
Watch the full UFC Seattle post-fight press appearance by Rob Font above.
