Rob Font believes Aljamain Sterling is a tougher matchup than Petr Yan.
Rob Font has his sights set on a bantamweight title shot following his lopsided decision win over Cody Garbrandt at UFC Vegas 27 last night, but the 33-year-old will likely have to sit out and wait to fight the winner of Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2.
Font is game to fight either man, but the No. 3-ranked bantamweight believes Sterling might be the tougher matchup, describing ‘Funk Master’ as a ‘tougher puzzle to solve’ than the more one dimensional fighter in Yan.
“I think Aljamain might be a tougher puzzle to solve,” Font said at the UFC Fight Night 188 post-fight press conference (h/t Alexander K. Lee of MMA Fighting). “Petr Yan’s similar to Cody. You know, stay long, long jab, and then run into something big. Aljamain’s a little trickier because of the wrestling and his length. But Aljamain, same thing, I think it will be boxing him up, stop a couple of takedowns and then straight box him up.
“And then same thing for Petr Yan. Just not get hit with big shots and box him up as well.”
Font isn’t happy about having to sit on the sidelines until Sterling and Yan meet in the Octagon again, but the former CES featherweight champion is learning to be patient.
“I feel like I’ve still got to sit back and wait,” he said “It sucks. I could have dominated or I could have knocked [Garbrandt] out, I’d still have to sit back and wait. I definitely don’t want to fight backwards so I learn patient, I’ll be patient.”
Sterling vs. Yan is expected to take place later this year, although no date or venue has been announced. Their previous bantamweight bout at UFC 259 saw Sterling become the first fighter in UFC history to win a title by disqualification.