5 Things You Might Not Know About Rob Font

Competence and consistency have marked Rob Font’s successful decade-long run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The 37-year-old perennial bantamweight contender will toe the line against the unbeaten Jean Matsumoto in a featured UFC Fight Night 252 attraction on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Font enters the cage in a bit of a rut, having lost four of his past six bouts. He last suited up at UFC Fight Night 245, where he took a unanimous decision from MMA Lab rep Kyler Phillips in their three-round battle on Oct. 19.

As Font draws nearer to his forthcoming clash with Matsumoto at a 140-pound catchweight, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. He shares a birthplace with a famed American pioneer.

Font was born on June 25, 1987 in Leominster, Massachusetts—a Boston suburb of some 43,000 people situated less than 50 miles to the northwest of Beantown. It was once home to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed.

2. His reputation as a high achiever was established early in his development.

The New England Cartel and Team Sityodtong export debuted at the age of 24 in 2011, won six of his first seven bouts and made his move to the front of the line on the regional circuit. Font captured the CES MMA featherweight crown with a first-round technical knockout of Chris Foster on Aug. 9, 2013. He retained the championship on one subsequent occasion and later vacated the title to sign with the UFC.

3. Durability has been a calling card.

Seven of Font’s eight career defeats have come by decision. The lone exception? Font submitted to a rear-naked choke from former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Pedro Munhoz at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28, 2017.

4. He monetized his propensity for violence.

Font has banked six post-fight bonuses across his 18 appearances in the UFC: four for “Performance of the Night” and two for “Fight of the Night.” It has resulted in $300,000 of additional income for the Tyson Chartier protégé.

5. He prefers home cooking.

Font has only competed twice outside of the continental United States. He lost a unanimous decision to ex-ONE Championship and Jungle Fight titleholder John Lineker at UFC 198 on May 14, 2016 in Curitiba, Brazil, then suffered the aforementioned loss to Munhoz in Sao Paulo, Brazil.