BOSTON – Rob Font didn’t expect his wrestling to be a gaping hole against Cory Sandhagen.
Font (20-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) was taken down seven times and controlled throughout the five rounds in a unanimous decision loss to Sandhagen in the UFC on ESPN 50 headliner. Font was originally scheduled to face Song Yadong in Saturday’s UFC 292 event, but ended up stepping in on short notice vs. Sandhagen to save the Nashville event.
Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) was successful in all his takedown attempts, and Font admits that his game plan threw him off.
“It was like I almost forgot how to wrestle,” Font told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during a media scrum. “It was annoying. I was expecting to strike a little bit more. Obviously, it didn’t go that way. Hat’s off to him. He played it smart. It’s just one of those things: I’ve just got to get to the room, get back to wrestling, because I felt better in fights before.
“This one, triggers just weren’t there. It just wasn’t coming off, and you add in five rounds. It’s crazy how five rounds feels like, and it goes by so quick when you’re losing. It’s just annoying, one of those things where I had a huge opportunity. I would have been here on a ‘W,’ looking to get that title shot, but it didn’t work out. (I’m) obviously grateful for the opportunity, just kind of felt like I fumbled it.”
Font would love a quick turnaround to take the bitter taste of defeat out of his mouth, but will get back to the drawing board first – preferably on the same date as Calvin Kattar’s return.
“Ideally, I would like to jump on a card with Calvin – kind of peak at the same time, get that feel again,” Font said. “My emotional side says let me get back in there as soon as possible, but I know I need to tighten up a couple of things. I need to really lock it in and really just get my triggers back.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 50.
