After finally making most of big chance, Rob Font ready to take – and finish – 'those big fights'

Rob Font has experienced some make-or-break UFC moments.

The first one took place in May 2016 at UFC 198. Although he was only two fights into his UFC career, Font had scored knockout wins in both, amounting to an overall 11-fight winning streak. He went into enemy territory to meet John Lineker, who’d won his first 135-pound fight after a flyweight run that, while highly victorious, had been spoiled by his constant weight misses.

Font lost via unanimous decision.

But with back-to-back finishes over Matt Schnell and Douglas Andrade came yet another big chance, against Pedro Munhoz. Again, Font went all the way to Brazil. Again, he faltered, becoming Munhoz’s fifth straight victim, with a first-round submission.

Despite the loss, Font (15-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) got himself yet another key matchup, this time in his hometown of Boston at UFC 220. The third time, however, was a charm: Font scored a knockout win over rising star Thomas Almeida (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC).

The way he sees it, it’s earned him some long-awaited leverage to put in specific bout requests.

“It’s huge,” Font told MMAjunkie Radio. “That’s all I’ve been wanting to do since I got into the division, is to be able to even have the opportunity to say these guys’ names. Now we do. We can legitimately get these title fights. I’m happy.

“Especially because I already had this opportunity twice, and I messed it up. It came through the third one. I struggled in Brazil, and we’ve got to fix that. But I’m ready. I’m ready for these big fights.”

What does he mean by “big fights,” specifically?

Well, as he said afterward, Font won’t start turning down opponents. But he’s also aiming toward foes placed above him in the rankings. So he’s already mapped out a few of those.

“Obviously, (former WSOF champ Marlon Moraes) would be a huge name,” Font said. “The Lineker rematch would be huge for myself. But It’s weird, because the division is kind of jammed up. I’m not sure what they’re going to do with (ex-UFC champ Dominick) Cruz and those guys, so more realistically I’m looking at more a Moraes or (Bryan Caraway)-type fight.

“I think the toughest one and the one that I think would probably get me the quickest to that No. 1 shot and that title would definitely either be the Lineker or the Moraes fight.”

Font is right in that the situation with the 135-pound title picture is a bit tough to figure out.

Its re-crowned champion, T.J. Dillashaw, currently has his sights set on making the move down to flyweight to challenge pound-for-pound king Demetrious Johnson. Contender Jimmie Rivera, who had scheduled bouts with Cruz and Lineker fall through due to injuries, is now angling for a fight with dethroned champ Cody Garbrandt. Garbrandt and Cruz, in turn, don’t have fights booked – though Garbrandt seems open to a rematch.

The good news for Font is that, after Rivera turned down a Feb. 24 date with Moraes, the former WSOF champ seems to remain unbooked. Lineker also has no fights scheduled. Caraway, however, is now set to meet Cody Stamman at UFC 222 on March 3.

Whomever Font ends up meeting next, though, he’ll meet with the added confidence of his latest accomplishment.

“I showed that, when I win, I finish,” Font said. “And that I’m in there to finish. I think I have a great shot at beating all these guys. And not even just beating them, but finishing them. I think if I put my right hand on somebody, they’re going to sleep. So I’m excited.”

To hear more from Font, check out the video above.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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