Rob Font will return to the cage this August in a bout against Song Yadong.
The bantamweight fight is the newest addition to UFC 292 in Boston, Sports Illustrated has learned.
Font (20–6) snapped a two-fight losing streak this past April, defeating Adrian Yanez by TKO in the first round. Having spent the majority of his career training just outside of Boston, the chance to fight at TD Garden—where he is undefeated in two bouts—is a necessity for Font.
“There’s no way I was turning this down,” says Font. “The moment I heard UFC was coming back to Boston, I had to be on the card.”
Yadong (20-7-1, 1 NC) has won four of his last five. Currently ranked eighth, he is looking to leapfrog Font, who is seventh, in the bantamweight rankings. While Font is fighting a lower-ranked opponent for the second straight bout, a victory against Yadong would further establish himself in the title picture.
“I don’t want to keep fighting backwards, but this is a great opportunity,” Font says. “Adrian was a big leap, but I needed to make a statement, and a first-round knockout was definitely a statement.
“Song is a lot closer [in the rankings]. I’m not going to jump the rankings with this fight, but it would be a big win and it’s one that I need to be in the discussion.”
The 292 card is headlined by Aljamain Sterling defending his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley. Women’s strawweight champ Zhang Weili will also defend her belt against Amanda Lemos. There is now a local flavor to the night, with a proud member of the New England Cartel looking to carve out his third victory on Causeway Street.
“There is so much history in Boston,” Font says. “So many legends have fought here. Now I get the chance to get this win and get another finish.”
