CES MMA Champ Rob Font Signs with UFC
The hottest fighter in the northeast and the most promising regional prospect in the featherweight division is taking his talent to new heights. Rob Font, a Tampa native now living in Boston, Mass., and training out of Sityodtong, has inked a promotional agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), joining fellow Bostonian John "Doomsday" Howard as the second fighter under the guidance of Rhode Island-based promoter CES MMA to reach a deal with the UFC within the past year.
"Although I'm thankful to all the promotions I've fought for, CES has by far provided me with the best platform," Font said. "Everything about them is top notch. A huge thank you to CES!
"This is a dream come true."
Font (10-1, 3 KOs), 26, has won nine consecutive fights, the last six under the promotional guidance of CES. The streak includes a first-round knockout win over fellow New Englander Chris Foster for the then-vacant CES MMA featherweight championship in August of 2013 and another opening-round knockout win over Tristan Johnson in April in the main event of "CES MMA XXIII" at Twin River Casino.
"One of the first questions we ask a fighter is 'What are you seeking to accomplish in this sport?' Rob's answer was simply, 'To be a UFC champion,'" CES vice president Jimmy Burchfield Jr. said. "Rob has fought everyone we put in front of him. He has seized the opportunity, winning in impressive fashion. We have worked very closely with Team Sityodtong and [Font's manager] Charles McCarthy of Guardian Sports Group to get Rob to this point. He deserves this opportunity. I am confident that he will make the most of it."
With a killer instinct in the cage and a strong promotional push behind him, Font is quickly becoming a household name on the nationwide mixed martial arts circuit. Highlights of his win over Johnson were featured on the popular AXS TV series Inside MMA. He'll make his UFC debut July 5th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on the undercard of UFC 175, which features the middleweight title bout between Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida. The fight will be contested at 135 pounds – Font's bantamweight debut.
Born in Tampa, Font moved to Boston in 2009 and had zero amateur fights on his record when he first stepped foot inside Mark DellaGrotte's Sityodtong branch in nearby Somerville. Within two years, Font went from sparring partner to amateur standout before debuting as a professional in December of 2011. Font's deal with the UFC comes 10 months after Howard re-signed with the UFC. Howard's first run lasted two years from 2009 to 2011. He's 2-1 since returning last July. In between stints with the UFC, Howard went 5-0 with five knockouts under the guidance of CES.
"So many people have helped get me here, so I'm thankful for them," Font said. "It feels amazing to say we've made it to the UFC, but it's one thing to make it and quite another to remain in the UFC. Needless to say, it's only the beginning. We have much more work to do."
