UFC bantamweight contender Rob Font might be taking on one of the toughest men in the game this weekend, but his path to the fight was even harder.
He told MMAFighting.com that he was shortlisted to challenge Petr Yan for the interim UFC bantamweight title back at UFC 267, but a sticky drug-testing situation waylaid his run at the strap.
After beating COVID, and USADA, Rob Font Takes on Jose Aldo
“It was tough to watch knowing I could’ve been there. Even just watching the weigh-ins, it was like, ‘F*ck, I could’ve been there.’ But it wasn’t right. I was still dealing with the whole USADA situation, so I didn’t even know if I would be even fighting for the next two years.
That’s where I was at mentally trying to figure out how to clear my name and explain to everybody that I’m taking hemp lotion, not doing anything illegal.”
After testing positive for traces of 4-Chlorophenoxyacetic acid, a metabolite of meclofenoxate, banned substances in the UFC, Font and his team had to prove that he was avoiding drugs. But then he tested positive for something far more sinister: COVID-19.
“Literally, once we get that call and confirmation that we’re gonna be released from jail… two days later, COVID. So me and the wife were stuck in the house for two weeks, cooped up, I was hurting for maybe three days.
After that, right when we’re about to get out, we get the call. ‘Hey, do you want to go to Dubai [and fight for the title]?’ F*ck! I had to tell them I can’t do it, hadn’t trained in a month. We thought about it, obviously. We even trained for a day, but after I thought, ‘I don’t know, man. It’s a great opportunity, but I’ll be doing it just to do it. It wouldn’t be a smart thing.”
So Jose Aldo, who once ruled the featherweight division for a decade without sustaining a loss, should be easy work. “We’re gonna go out there and have fun.
I believe I’m gonna push a pace on him for the first two rounds and see how he deals with the cardio, then look for that finish in the third round.
He’s fought everybody at this point. He’s seen it and done it, so there’s nothing I can throw at him that he hasn’t seen, except for how consistent I am with my jab and how much I believe in it, and how dedicated I am to it. I don’t think he’s fought anybody who lives and breathes with his jab.
I’m ready to go in there, mix it up, and become a legend.” Do you think Rob Font can overcome the former champ? Let us know in the comments.
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit ScreenJuicer for great videos, news, and gameplay!
