Career Averages - Rob Font
Career Averages - Kyler Phillips
Rob Font
Kyler Phillips
Rob Font - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 0 | 10 of 31 | 32% | 29 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:13 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 8 of 33 | 24% | 47 of 75 | 16 of 18 | 88% | 0 | 1 | 10:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 8 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 5 of 22 | 22% | 12 of 29 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 0 | 0 | 2:11 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:13 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 17 of 23 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 4:07 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 0 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 13 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 18 of 23 | 8 of 9 | 88% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 10 of 31 | 32% | 6 of 25 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 8 of 33 | 24% | 5 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 7 of 20 | 35% | 4 of 15 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 5 of 22 | 22% | 2 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 3 of 9 | 33% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo highlights that Rob Font is a technical striker with no takedown defense, while Raul Rosas is a relentless grappler with fantastic control. He expects Rosas to wrestle and get as many takedowns as he wants, as long as he doesn't try to box with Font. He calls it a Raul showcase.
Big Brady picks Raul Rosas Jr. over Rob Font. He highlights Font's poor takedown defense (43%) and tendency to be controlled on the ground, as seen in the Cory Sandhagen fight. Rosas Jr. has improved cardio and should be able to take Font down and hold him there. Brady expects a decision win for Rosas Jr., as Font has good defensive grappling but won't take risks to get up.
Cody leans toward Rosas Jr., citing Font's poor takedown defense and Rosas's youth and improvement. He notes Font's age and slowing down, and expects Rosas to rack up control time and win a decision. He mentions the Chiawei effect as a factor.
Connor picks Rosas, citing Font's poor takedown defense (43% career) and Rosas's relentless wrestling. He notes that Font got taken down seven times by John Matsumoto and still won, but Sandhagen's disciplined wrestling led to a loss. Connor believes Rosas's commitment to wrestling will be enough, despite Rosas's underdeveloped striking and youth. He acknowledges Font's toughness but sees a clear path for Rosas.
Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Raul Rosas Jr., citing Rob Font's poor takedown defense and getup game, especially as he fatigues. He believes Rosas has matured since his loss to Cristian Rodriguez and will submit Font. Vreeland acknowledges Font's experience but thinks Rosas's grappling will be the difference.
The host argues that Raul Rosas Jr. is a good bet despite being a favorite because of the extreme age gap (18 years younger), Font's poor takedown defense (42% takedown offense, gave up takedowns to Matsumoto, Figueiredo, Sandhagen), and Font's reliance on volume striking rather than power. He believes Rosas Jr. will stick to Font like glue, outgrapple him, and win two out of three rounds. He notes that Font's windows to strike will be slim due to constant takedown threats.
James picks Rob Font as an underdog, believing Font is the much better striker who will win the minutes on the feet. He acknowledges Rosas Jr.'s grappling threat but questions whether Rosas can hold Font down for extended periods, citing Font's ability to get back up in recent fights. James also notes that Rosas has never fought at this level and has been reversed in previous fights, making Font the value side. However, he admits Font's chin is a concern and that Rosas could hurt him.
Rosas Jr. is persistent with his grappling and will eventually take Font down and control him. Font has been susceptible to wrestlers. Rosas should win a decision, but the line is too high; only play if it drops to -150.
Paul picks Rosas Jr. but with hesitation, noting his takedown ability but concerns about gassing. He thinks Rosas will get early takedowns and control, but Font's get-up game is good. He suggests betting live after seeing if Font can get back up.
The MMA Guru picks Raul Rosas Jr., citing his relentless grappling and Font's struggles against grapplers (e.g., Sandhagen). He believes Rosas will take Font down and control him, winning by decision. He mentions the New England Cartel curse.
Zane picks Font, noting that Font has been taken down many times but still wins fights. He points out that Rosas's game is limited and that Font's experience and ability to do damage on the feet will be key. Zane acknowledges the risk from Rosas's speed and confidence, but believes Font's toughness and veteran savvy will carry him. He compares it to Font's win over Matsumoto.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 0 | 49 of 158 | 31% | 49 of 158 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:59 |
| David Martínez | 0 | 62 of 155 | 40% | 115 of 210 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 0 | 11 of 51 | 21% | 11 of 51 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| David Martínez | 0 | 22 of 45 | 48% | 35 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 | 15 of 49 | 30% | 15 of 49 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| David Martínez | 0 | 10 of 27 | 37% | 30 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 0 | 23 of 58 | 39% | 23 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| David Martínez | 0 | 30 of 83 | 36% | 50 of 105 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 49 of 158 | 31% | 40 of 138 | 7 of 17 | 2 of 3 | 49 of 158 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| David Martínez | 62 of 155 | 40% | 33 of 115 | 10 of 16 | 19 of 24 | 62 of 155 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 11 of 51 | 21% | 11 of 48 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 11 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| David Martínez | 22 of 45 | 48% | 7 of 25 | 5 of 8 | 10 of 12 | 22 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 15 of 49 | 30% | 9 of 37 | 5 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| David Martínez | 10 of 27 | 37% | 6 of 20 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 23 of 58 | 39% | 20 of 53 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| David Martínez | 30 of 83 | 36% | 20 of 70 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 10 | 30 of 83 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rob Font, despite his age (38) and lack of takedown defense. He says Font is a technical striker with clean hands, good chin, and veteran composure. He thinks David Martinez, stepping up on short notice, probably won't look to wrestle unless losing the striking exchanges, and by then it's too late. He says the over 2.5 is probably rock solid. He also mentions a David Martinez inside the distance decision no action prop.
Big Brady picks Font because Martinez is a big step down in competition. He notes Font has fought and lost to elite fighters, but has beaten lower-level opponents. He likes Font's volume, cardio, and experience. He predicts a decision win, though he acknowledges Martinez has power and Font can be hurt.
Connor picks Rob Font, emphasizing Font's reach advantage and high-output one-two, which will trouble Martínez's in-and-out striking style. He notes that Martínez struggled with the jab against Xavier Franklin and Font is a better version of that. Connor acknowledges Font's age (38) but says his chin hasn't gone yet, and Martínez lacks the power or wrestling to exploit it.
Martinez has received a lot of love, moving from +180 to +115, and the host agrees. He believes Martinez is closer to his prime, dangerous in striking, treads distance well, and will counter Font's output. He expects Martinez to stuff takedowns and win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Rob Font, dismissing David Martinez as unproven with wins over low-level opponents. He believes Font's jab and reach will be key, and that Martinez's single-shot explosivity won't trouble Font. He predicts a decision win, possibly 30-27 or 30-26, as Martinez loses composure when peppered with jabs.
Zane picks Rob Font, highlighting Font's consistent output, power, and experience against top competition. He notes that Font's losses have come only against elite fighters with superior wrestling or power, and Martínez lacks both. Zane believes Martínez's step up in competition is too large, and Font's one-two and takedown to seal rounds will be decisive.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 0 | 95 of 171 | 55% | 113 of 191 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:18 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 0 | 77 of 181 | 42% | 113 of 225 | 7 of 10 | 70% | 0 | 0 | 6:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 0 | 21 of 34 | 61% | 27 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:26 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 32 of 49 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:40 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 | 34 of 56 | 60% | 36 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 0 | 29 of 61 | 47% | 35 of 69 | 5 of 5 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 0 | 40 of 81 | 49% | 50 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 0 | 41 of 101 | 40% | 46 of 107 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 95 of 171 | 55% | 82 of 157 | 13 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 85 of 157 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 77 of 181 | 42% | 43 of 135 | 9 of 13 | 25 of 33 | 69 of 169 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 21 of 34 | 61% | 20 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 32 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 7 of 19 | 36% | 1 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 34 of 56 | 60% | 28 of 50 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 34 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 29 of 61 | 47% | 16 of 43 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 14 | 29 of 61 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 40 of 81 | 49% | 34 of 74 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 69 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Jean Matsumoto | 41 of 101 | 40% | 26 of 80 | 3 of 6 | 12 of 15 | 37 of 93 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
His back no longer totally against the wall, Font (21-8, 11-7 UFC) ended a losing streak last year by outworking Kyler Phillips. It is up to the Boston native to play spoiler once more, as he battles undefeated youngster Matsumoto (16-0, 2-0 UFC) at 140 pounds. With Font initially expecting to fight Dominick Cruz, Matsumoto stepping in late forced the weight shift. The assignment goes to referee Keith Peterson, who steps back to let the fighters get to nonsense-free business. They touch gloves, and Font walks straight forward hurling serious leather with a questionable tactic. Matsumoto is caught off-guard, and he fights for a takedown to slow things down and get his bearings. Font turns him against the fencing, and he staves off a single a few times as his seat hits the canvas for less than a second. Font gets up and breaks free, and he promptly puts a one-two on the chin. Matsumoto stumbles and rebounds off the fencing, and he narrowly escapes a huge uppercut soaring his way. Font fearlessly marches his foe down, whose one-twos are clean as can be. Font’s aggression gets the better of him, as the Brazilian tags him with a right hand to surprise him. Matsumoto rushes forward in pursuit of a takedown, and Font allows this so he can fall to his back and implement an offensive guard. Font goes for a triangle choke and transitions to an omoplata shoulder lock, and when both of those do not materialize, he hunts for a kimura to sweep. Matsumoto breaks out of it and shifts from one side to the other, not settling down or establishing himself in a guard. Matsumoto keeps moving, and he moves to half guard so he can keep Font pinned to the mat without any chance of throwing up a submission. Font still explodes to his feet, and Matsumoto sees this coming and wraps up a guillotine choke. Font, on his side, keeps his neck safe from danger, and he pops his head out. Matsumoto moves to a partial side control for a moment to land strikes, only for Font to get back to his feet. Matsumoto slams him back down with emphasis, dropping down a pair of punches to punctuate the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Round 2
Font charges out of his corner, and Matsumoto learned his lesson about accepting the touch of gloves this time. Matsumoto slows him down with his own jab, but Font is still right in his face. Matsumoto slaps a kick off the side and one to the lead leg, and Font flashes his own jab. Matsumoto turns his hips into a hard low kick, and Font snaps his head back a few times with speedy fists. Matsumoto fires right back to open up a takedown, and he finds himself in a guillotine choke. The Brazilian easily climbs out of it, and Font works his way to one knee and then upright. Matsumoto awkwardly hangs on the back ankle, using the leverage to wrench the veteran back to the mat. Font thinks about grabbing the fence to stand, and ultimately works his way up to break free. Font walks his man down and completely no-sells a few low kicks so he can fire off a massive uppercut that buzzes past the youngster. Font goes to the body and head in a combination, while Matsumoto is active with his feet. Font digs a few more to the body, and he defends a head kick. Matsumoto mixes up his kicks high and low, not giving Font a pattern to follow. Font ignores these all so he can punch the youngster square in the face, with sharp one-twos that are fast and effective while keeping him out of counter danger. Matsumoto runs at him and trips him up by the ankle to set him down, and Font egregiously grabs the cage to keep himself upright. Peterson slaps his hand out of the fencing, and Matsumoto again wraps up Font’s back ankle to get a mat return. Instead of tripping Font up like that, he elects to lift Font up the air and drive him down into the mat. Font wraps up a kimura to sweep, and it allows him to get back to his feet. Font is right back to walking his man down, with Matsumoto on his bike trying to not get hit with the worst thrown at him. Font attacks the body and gets stung up top, but he is willing to fire and take damage. Matsumoto boots his man upside the head, and he absorbs a stern right hand at the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Font
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Round 3
Scores could be all over the map in this one, and the final frame starts as aggressively as the first two. Font is a man on a mission, leading into combinations and not seeming to flinch any time the Brazilian slugs him back. Matsumoto keeps him honest with counters, and his leg kicks are beginning to add up. Font clubs his man in the side of the head and just misses with a head kick, and he keeps chasing forward. Matsumoto rips a mean left to the liver, and it is as if nothing happened as Font is in his grill slinging furious leather. The strikes from Font rip open a cut on his foe’s forehead, and he targets it with a knee when Matsumoto clinches him up. Matsumoto slips with a low kick and throws back a right hand up top, only to be met with a jab and a right. The blood quickly flows down the youngster’s face, transforming his visage into something out of a horror movie. Matsumoto tries to take the fight down with Font on him so doggedly, and Font stonewalls him and blasts him with an uppercut. Matsumoto chews up Font’s lead leg with kicks, and he doubles or triples up on them to open up takedowns. Font breaks out of a clinch to wrap his right hand around the guard of his foe, and he protects himself with a head kick and knees his man in the stomach. Font attacks with an elbow, a knee and several clinch strikes to put the 25-year-old through the wood chipper. Matsumoto fires back as well, but Font’s is putting volume and heavy pressure on him. Matsumoto sells out for a takedown, and Font pushes it aside and gets some space. They stand in the pocket throwing hands, and Font swings hard. Matsumoto goes wild with a flurry of punches, kicks, spinning strikes and anything else he can muster. One flying knee from Matsumoto is met with a huge right hand, and the two go ballistic with an onslaught of offense with shades of Max Holloway vs. Ricardo Lamas minus the pointing to the floor. Both men hit, get hit, hurt the other and get hurt as the torrid exchange only ends when the final horn blares. Judges will have their hands full with this one, but what a fight these two turned in.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Matsumoto)
The Official Result
Rob Font def. Jean Matsumoto via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Angelo picks Jean Matsumoto, citing his youth, aggression, power, and multiple ways to win. He notes Rob Font is 37 and aging, and while Font's boxing is clean, he can't defend takedowns. He draws a parallel to Calvin Kattar being out-struck by a younger fighter. He is surprised the line moved toward Font.
Big Brady picks Jean Matsumoto, noting that Rob Font's takedown defense and ground game have looked awful recently, citing the Cory Sandhagen and Kyler Phillips fights. He believes Matsumoto, though not the best wrestler, is a good grappler who can take Font down and keep him there. He expects Matsumoto to win by decision, as Font has good submission defense but is content to stay on his back and lose minutes.
Connor picks Font, agreeing that Matsumoto is uncreative and predictable, while Font is a skilled boxer with good durability. He notes that Matsumoto fights in bursts and leaves gaps, which Font can exploit. Connor also points out that Font has a reach advantage and is a good puncher himself, as seen in the Yadong fight.
The host notes Matsumoto is a short-notice replacement but expects his damaging style and effective striking in the pocket to be too much for Font. He thinks Matsumoto's damage-based approach will win on the scorecards as long as Font doesn't get too far ahead in volume.
The Guru strongly picks Font as an underdog, calling it a no-brainer. He criticizes Matsumoto's undefeated record, noting close fights with Brad Katona and Dan Arreta where he was outgrappled. He highlights Font's experience against top competition, durability (never finished by strikes), and striking menace. He believes Matsumoto lacks KO power and won't submit or outgrapple Font.
Zane picks Font because Matsumoto is a limited fighter who fights in bursts and is predictable, while Font has a clear winning formula of jabbing and boxing. He notes that Font is durable, mentally tough, and has a reach advantage. Zane believes Matsumoto would need to hurt Font badly every round to win, which is unlikely given Font's durability.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 0 | 61 of 137 | 44% | 65 of 144 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 38 of 125 | 30% | 50 of 143 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 7 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 10 of 26 | 38% | 21 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:34 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 | 31 of 58 | 53% | 34 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 14 of 48 | 29% | 15 of 49 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 0 | 23 of 60 | 38% | 24 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 14 of 51 | 27% | 14 of 52 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 61 of 137 | 44% | 50 of 122 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 56 of 131 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 38 of 125 | 30% | 19 of 98 | 9 of 14 | 10 of 13 | 32 of 112 | 1 of 6 | 5 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 7 of 19 | 36% | 6 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 10 of 26 | 38% | 8 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 7 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 31 of 58 | 53% | 23 of 48 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 28 of 55 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 14 of 48 | 29% | 6 of 38 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 44 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 23 of 60 | 38% | 21 of 57 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 14 of 51 | 27% | 5 of 37 | 2 of 6 | 7 of 8 | 14 of 49 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Phillips (-425), Font (+330)
Round 1
Sitting in the co-main event slot is a bantamweight contest that will reestablish or coin a new contender in the talent-rich division. Having lost four of his last five, Font’s (20-8, 10-7 UFC) back is about as against the wall as it gets. As much as Font has largely struggled, Phillips (12-2, 6-1 UFC) has flourished, winner of his last three—albeit with one win in 2022, one in 2023 and the latest in March. This potential passing of the torch encounter will be officiated by referee Keith Peterson, and the 135ers touch ‘em up without a shred of nonsense between them. Font jabs his way directly into action, landing a few punches and setting up more. As Font presses forward, Phillips shoots in and easily hits a takedown, landing in side control and laughing off a guillotine choke defense from the New Englander. Phillips steps over from one side to the other, shifting to half guard as he sets up an arm-triangle choke. When Phillips abandons the choke, he secures side control almost effortlessly. Font turns to the other direction, but he stops doing so when realizing this will give his back up. Phillips controls from on top without unleashing much offense, posturing to the other side to drop down a single elbow. Any time Font tries to scramble, Phillips easily sees it coming and lays into Font with powerful elbows. Font turns over after fighting off a submission setup to explode back to his feet, and Phillips greets him with a spinning wheel kick. Font keeps his guard up and plods forward, scoring an uppercut and swinging a second before shooting in for a double. Font takes Phillips’ back standing, and Phillips breaks out of the position without much concern. Phillips scores a one-two, Font throws back, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Font stalks out of his corner to engage in the second round, no-selling a leg kick so he can chamber and loose a few hard right hands. Font busts Phillips in the chops with a particularly strong right, and “The Matrix” responds with a shot that plants Font on his back. Font fights much more aggressively to get to his feet, walking up the wall and pressuring Phillips as much as he can. Font trails after Phillips, keeping his guard high and using tight boxing combinations to keep Phillips honest. Font winds up with a right hand that misses the mark, and he lets Phillips throw first so he can counter and tie him up. Font decides to disengage, taking a body kick to the side and chasing after Phillips to make Phillips turn tail and run. Phillips resets and kicks Font in the ribs, and he leans back after a leg kick to get popped with an overhand right. Font digs a body shot, and Phillips escapes and is eating powerful blows while his hands are low and his chin is high in the air. Font stabs his foe in the sternum with his foot, and he ignores a lazy high kick aimed his direction so he can blast Phillips in the face with a right hand. Fond chomps down on his mouthpiece and nails Phillips again, and swelling quickly develops around the Arizonan’s left eye. Phillips keeps on his bike, and Font is a Terminator walking through anything aimed at him so he can tag Phillips with power. A Phillips spin strike fails, as Font keeps his hands high and works the body to open up the head. Phillips tries to tie him up, and he pushes off to fire off a one-two and a spinning back fist. Phillips clinches, and Font wrenches himself away so he can keep the suffocating pace. Phillips gets backed off courtesy of several jabs, and Font utilizes the clinch to wear further on Phillips. Right before the bell, Phillips hits a foot sweep and puts Font on his seat.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Font
Round 3
Phillips starts off the round backing away from his opponent, and he lands a leg kick and shoots for a successful takedown. Font hits the ground and starts hand-fighting, eventually settling for muscling back to his feet. Phillips hacks at him with a tomahawking elbow when upright, and Font laughs it off and slugs him in the face with a right hand. Font loads up two more times on heavy rights, and both whoosh past “The Matrix.” Font surges into action behind his punches, landing and turning Phillips around. Phillips steels himself and swing back for vengeance, cracking Font with a right hand and rushing to the side to get a modicum of space. Font will not let him breathe for long, bearing down on him and crushing him against the cage wall. Phillips escapes and ducks an overhand right, kicking the side as he further escapes. Font sticks out a jab, and he sets up an uppercut when Phillips splits the distance to take him down. Font keeps pursuing Phillips fearlessly, getting his calf kicked hard but keeping his balance to stride ever forward. Font’s punches are telegraphed, as are Phillips’ takedowns. The latter is what comes next, but Font stops it in its tracks. Phillips breaks away before eating a strike, and he backpedals and has his left hand up to block Font’s wide right hooks. Phillips clips Font with his own short flurry, and Font tags him with one overhand right to slow him again. Font’s momentum leads to another clinch, and Phillips frames off with his knee. Font loads up time and again on his booming right, and Phillips gives him a little extra something to think about with a wheel kick. Font catches Phillips with a right hand on the way out, and Phillips’ legs are loose but he is still with it. Font keeps after him, watching for a spin kick that comes and advancing to sling final leather. Font stuffs one final takedown, and time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
The Official Result
Rob Font def. Kyler Phillips via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Kyler Phillips, citing the decline of the New England Cartel's takedown defense. He notes Rob Font's vulnerability to wrestling and believes Phillips' diverse striking and wrestling will make Font look old and slow. He expects Phillips to mix in takedowns and win comfortably. He criticizes the New England Cartel's inability to evolve.
Big Brady picks Kyler Phillips by any method. He notes Font's durability is diminishing, he gets wobbled often, and has poor takedown defense. Phillips can win on the feet or by takedown. He expects Phillips to get it done, possibly by knockout, submission, or decision, given Font's toughness.
Connor also picks Phillips but with hesitation, noting that Phillips' early speed and variety are key, but he fades late. He thinks Font could come on strong in the third round if Phillips hasn't put him away. Connor is not fully convinced about Phillips yet, but sees the takedowns and speed as enough to win over three rounds.
This fight was not discussed in the transcript.
Font has been on a bad slump. His volume style can be effective, but Phillips will land more significant strikes and mix in takedowns. Phillips will grind out a win on the scorecards.
The Guru picks Phillips over Font, citing Font's susceptibility to being grappled and his age (37). He notes Phillips has explosive takedowns and offensive grappling, as shown against Pedro Munhoz, and trains with Sean O'Malley. He expects Phillips to mix things up and win a decision, though he acknowledges Font is a good boxer.
Zane picks Phillips, citing his speed and variety early in the fight to stump Font for two rounds. He acknowledges that Phillips tends to fade in the third round, but believes Font's linear style and lack of adaptability will allow Phillips to build an insurmountable lead. He notes that Phillips may also use takedowns, though that could gas him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 46 of 94 | 48% | 48 of 96 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 45 of 74 | 60% | 53 of 84 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 4:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 22 of 37 | 59% | 22 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 10 of 20 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 | |
| 2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 15 of 33 | 45% | 17 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 15 of 22 | 68% | 15 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:09 | |
| 3 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 9 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 20 of 32 | 62% | 28 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 46 of 94 | 48% | 39 of 85 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 44 of 92 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 45 of 74 | 60% | 35 of 64 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 60 | 6 of 7 | 6 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 22 of 37 | 59% | 20 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 10 of 20 | 50% | 7 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 15 of 33 | 45% | 12 of 29 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 13 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 15 of 22 | 68% | 12 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 18 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Deiveson Figueiredo | 9 of 24 | 37% | 7 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 20 of 32 | 62% | 16 of 28 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 22 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 7 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Font (-135), Figueiredo (+114)
Round 1
Business picks up with a bantamweight showcase pitting Font (20-7, 10-6 UFC) against Figueiredo (21-3-1, 10-3-1 UFC)—a two-time flyweight champion making the jump to 135 pounds. Figueiredo has not fought anyone other than archrival Brandon Moreno since November 2020.
For more on the Brazilian’s move to the bantamweight division, read “New Digs for Deiveson Figueiredo” from the aforementioned Stein
. Rexroad serves as the referee. Font moves to the center of the cage and stalks the Brazilian from range. He backs up Figueiredo with a clean one-two, shrugs off an attempted clinch and flicks out a few jabs. Figueiredo completes a takedown but cannot keep the New England Cartel rep down. Back on the feet, Font gets to work with his jab. Figueiredo lands an overhand right, ducks into takedown and again allows his opponent to get back to his feet. Font fires a long one-two and moves behind Figueiredo. He lifts the Brazilian off his feet but cannot finish the takedown. Round is still up in the air with a minute to go. Font counters with a right uppercut, and they trade jabs. Figueiredo staggers him with an overhand right but elects not to accelerate. He lures Font into a tie-up along the fence, stalls and then breaks into open space. Figueiredo looking more and more comfortable on the feet. They trad jabs at the close of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Round 2
Font gets busy with his jab but allows the Brazilian to close the distance and clinch along the fence. The action stalls briefly. Figueiredo lands a knee south of the equator, resulting in a brief pause. Font readjusts the jewels, and they resume their battle. Figueiredo connects with an uppercut and stays light on his feet. Font shuts off a takedown attempt, then walks into a clean right hand from the Brazilian. He pops Figueiredo with a leg kick and presses forward behind punches. Figueiredo ducks a punch and secures a takedown with two minutes left in the round. Font scrambles free, and they get back to business in the center of the cage. Figueiredo’s output has dwindled here. Font pounds home a jab, then follows with a leg kick. He circled out of a clinch from the Brazilian, marches forward and pumps out his jab. Figueiredo lands a clean two-punch volley and follows with a front kick up the middle.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo
Round 3
Figueiredo moves forward behind a front kick, initiates a tie-up and works for a takedown. Font’s defense holds up. Figueiredo steps into a right hand, then another and engages the Massachusetts native in the clinch. Nothing materializes. Font connects with a right hook to the body. Both men landing in single shots. Figueiredo dazes his counterpart with a wicked left hook, pushes him backward, fires a knee to the body and delivers another left hook upstairs. Font answers with a multi-punch volley, mixes in a jab and whiffs on an elbow over the top. They trade jabs midway through Round 3. Figueiredo ducks into a single-leg and completes a key takedown. He climbs to full mount, drops elbows and hammerfists, maintains his position and gets warned for grabbing the fence. Font reclaims half guard but struggles to control the Brazilian’s posture. With 30 seconds to go, this is slipping away from Font. Figueiredo slides to side control, applies heavy pressure and bleeds the remaining time off the clock.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo (30-27 Figueiredo)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo (30-27 Figueiredo)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Figueiredo (30-27 Figueiredo)
The Official Result
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Rob Font—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Big Brady picks Figueiredo as a dog, citing paths to victory via wrestling or landing big shots. He notes Font's poor takedown defense and get-up game, and thinks Figueiredo can mix in takedowns. He also thinks Figueiredo's power could be a factor, as Font gets rocked often. He predicts a decision win for Figueiredo.
Cody takes Figueiredo as an underdog. He cites Figueiredo's power, multiple paths to victory (knockdowns, takedowns), and Font's poor takedown defense as shown against Cory Sandhagen. He thinks Figueiredo can land bigger shots and mix in wrestling. He also notes Figueiredo moving up to 135 may help his cardio and power translation.
Lucrative James leans towards Rob Font, citing his size, reach, and experience against top bantamweights. He acknowledges Figueiredo's power and guillotine threat, and Font's questionable chin. However, he believes Font should be favored and may look to attack a prop rather than the moneyline due to volatility.
Figueiredo moves up to bantamweight and should carry power and strength. Font has been outgrappled and outdamaged in recent fights, with poor takedown defense and a tendency to lose rounds due to damage. Figueiredo's power and ability to land big shots could lead to a knockout, similar to Font's losses to Aldo and Vera. Font may win minutes, but Figueiredo will win moments and likely finish.
Paul sides slightly with Font based on volume. He thinks Font should box Figueiredo up and put up crazy volume over three rounds. He notes Figueiredo's power and Font's chinny history, but believes Font's volume will be enough. He says the line is accurate and he's not too confident.
The MMA Guru picks Rob Font by first-round KO, believing Figueiredo's power won't translate up a division and that Font's reach and jab will be decisive. He notes Figueiredo's defensive flaws and recent injuries. He predicts Font will catch Figueiredo early and put him away.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 34 of 84 | 40% | 132 of 211 | 7 of 7 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 19:38 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 9 of 49 | 18% | 25 of 69 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 27 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:43 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 5 of 22 | 22% | 6 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 38 of 54 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 10 of 24 | 41% | 27 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 29 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 11 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 9 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 34 of 84 | 40% | 30 of 79 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 24 of 36 |
| Rob Font | 9 of 49 | 18% | 5 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 44 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 8 of 26 | 30% | 6 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 6 |
| Rob Font | 5 of 22 | 22% | 2 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 17 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 7 of 15 | 46% | 6 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Rob Font | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 10 of 24 | 41% | 9 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 10 |
| Rob Font | 4 of 10 | 40% | 3 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 6 of 11 | 54% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 |
| Rob Font | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Cory Sandhagen | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Rob Font | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Cory Sandhagen, citing his active striking, fluid combinations, and solid BJJ. He notes that Rob Font is a gritty boxer with a solid chin but lacks power and is on the back nine of his career. Angelo believes Sandhagen will make it a true MMA fight by mixing in wrestling, and that the catchweight benefits Sandhagen as the larger fighter. He also points out that Font is stepping up on short notice and that Sandhagen dominated Chito Vera, who is more dangerous than Font.
Big Brady is very confident in Sandhagen, citing Rob Font's age (36), short notice, and accumulated damage from recent fights like the Marlon Vera beating where Font was dropped multiple times. He believes Sandhagen's diverse striking and submission threat will overwhelm Font, and that Font's durability has declined. He predicts Sandhagen will either dominate to a 50-43 decision or become the first to knock Font out, possibly with a head kick or knee.
Cody picks Sandhagen due to his blend of striking and takedowns, plus a full camp preparing for Umar Nurmagomedov. He notes Font's short notice and history of being dropped (five times in two fights) as vulnerabilities. Cody believes Sandhagen can mix in takedowns and strike effectively, though he acknowledges Font's elite striking and volume. He also mentions betting Sandhagen by knockout at +225.
Daniel Levi is confident in Cory Sandhagen, citing his evolution into a well-rounded fighter with improved wrestling and durability. He notes Sandhagen's killer resume and recent performances against Song Yadong and Chito Vera as evidence of his growth. Levi believes Sandhagen's fight IQ and length will be key, and that he will avoid trading in the pocket with Font's dangerous jab. He sees Sandhagen as a future title contender and expects him to shine in the main event.
James is very confident Sandhagen dominates. He thinks Sandhagen can do whatever he wants—strike, takedown, submit, or knock out Font. He believes Font's chin is done and predicts a knockout in the second or third round. He notes Sandhagen's dynamism and one-shot power.
Sandhagen has an unorthodox style that blends wrestling and striking, and he's made for five rounds. Font has a great comeback win over Yanez, but Sandhagen's style will be too unorthodox for Font to get going. Sandhagen eats damage well and counters effectively. The fight likely goes the distance, so over 4.5 rounds is my favorite prop, but Sandhagen gets his hand raised. The line is too wide to bet heavily, and there is value on Font at these odds.
Paul agrees with Cody, citing Sandhagen's full camp and wrestling advantage. He notes Font's short notice and chin issues, but expects a competitive fight if it goes the distance. Paul leans towards Sandhagen by knockout, though he respects both fighters.
The host picks Cory Sandhagen confidently, calling him a cerebral, diverse striker in his prime. He believes Sandhagen will pick Font apart with superior technique and defense. He notes Font is 36 and while dangerous, Sandhagen is a better mixed martial artist. He predicts a unanimous decision but does not rule out a head kick knockout. He recommends Sandhagen as a parlay piece and expects the line to rise.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 1 | 33 of 75 | 44% | 33 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Adrian Yañez | 0 | 25 of 54 | 46% | 25 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 1 | 33 of 75 | 44% | 33 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Adrian Yañez | 0 | 25 of 54 | 46% | 25 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 33 of 75 | 44% | 30 of 69 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 27 of 66 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 7 |
| Adrian Yañez | 25 of 54 | 46% | 21 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 25 of 51 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 33 of 75 | 44% | 30 of 69 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 27 of 66 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 7 |
| Adrian Yañez | 25 of 54 | 46% | 21 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 25 of 51 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Adrian Yañez but is not highly confident, noting that Rob Font is a clean technical striker who is very live. He thinks Yañez is a younger version of Font, faster and with more power, but Font has a good chin and could win. He warns that this could be a changing of the guard, but Font could also remind everyone he's still elite.
Big Brady picks Adrian Yañez despite wanting to pick Rob Font, due to Font's recent durability issues. He notes Font has taken massive damage in his last two fights and has been dropped repeatedly. He believes Yañez has power and volume, and can win by decision or knockout. He predicts a decision win for Yañez.
Cody agrees with Paul on Font. He points out that Yañez struggled early against Randy Costa, getting dominated in round one before Costa gassed. Cody believes Font's constant jab and long-range strikes will disrupt Yañez's timing and prevent him from landing his power shots. He sees Font's volume as overwhelming and thinks Yañez may struggle to find his rhythm. Cody also notes Font by decision at +200 is worth a look.
Connor picks Yañez because Font's defensive flaws are well-documented: he has poor footwork after committing to his right hand and relies on a static high guard. Yañez is a fantastic counter puncher who will find openings as Font falls into predictable rhythms. However, Connor notes that Yañez can be a slow starter and may lose the first round if Font's jab takes over. He also mentions that Yañez's high-output style can lead to fatigue, as seen against Davey Grant. Despite these concerns, Connor believes Yañez's sharp countering will eventually catch Font.
Jacob is extremely high on Adrian Yañez, calling him his guy and predicting he will be champion by 2025. He praises Yañez's beautiful boxing, combinations, and power. He believes Yañez will find the timing and land the more impactful shots, possibly finishing inside the distance. He acknowledges that Yañez can be a slow starter but trusts his dog mentality.
Font has high output, a great jab, and good footwork, but his durability is questionable after losses to Aldo and Vera. Yañez is a crisp boxer with power, but this is his toughest test. Font's volume and jab could frustrate Yañez, and Font's cardio should hold up. However, if Font's chin is shot, Yañez could land a big shot. I lean Font by decision but with hesitation.
Paul likes Rob Font as a plus-money underdog. He questions Yañez's level of competition, noting his wins are over lower-tier fighters and his only step-up against Davey Grant was a close split decision. Paul highlights Font's elite striking volume, footwork, and jab, and notes that Font has gone five rounds with top bantamweights. He acknowledges Font's tendency to get knocked down but believes his volume and experience will overwhelm Yañez.
The MMA Guru picks Adrian Yañez to win by decision. He expects Font to have success early with his jab and takedowns, but Yañez will weather the storm and start finding his range. He predicts Yañez will hurt Font badly in rounds two and three, with moments of near-finishes, but Font will survive to the final bell. He compares it to a Marlon Vera-esque performance.
Zane picks Yañez because Font's defensive issues are severe: he gets hit cleanly in every fight and has been knocked down repeatedly. Yañez is a sharp counter puncher who will exploit Font's tendency to leave himself open after throwing the right hand. Zane acknowledges that Yañez may start slow and lose the first round, but he expects Yañez to figure out Font's rhythm and land big shots. He also notes that Font's chin is a major concern, as even if Yañez fades, he only needs one clean shot to change the fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 271 of 516 | 52% | 273 of 520 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Rob Font | 3 | 159 of 283 | 56% | 167 of 291 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlon Vera | 0 | 57 of 100 | 57% | 57 of 100 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 26 of 46 | 56% | 26 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Marlon Vera | 0 | 51 of 97 | 52% | 51 of 97 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rob Font | 1 | 27 of 52 | 51% | 30 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 3 | Marlon Vera | 0 | 71 of 123 | 57% | 71 of 123 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Rob Font | 1 | 37 of 71 | 52% | 39 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:33 | |
| 4 | Marlon Vera | 0 | 42 of 89 | 47% | 44 of 93 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rob Font | 1 | 36 of 56 | 64% | 39 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:09 | |
| 5 | Marlon Vera | 0 | 50 of 107 | 46% | 50 of 107 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 33 of 58 | 56% | 33 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Vera | 271 of 516 | 52% | 199 of 436 | 48 of 56 | 24 of 24 | 256 of 496 | 15 of 20 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 159 of 283 | 56% | 95 of 205 | 22 of 31 | 42 of 47 | 133 of 246 | 4 of 4 | 22 of 33 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlon Vera | 57 of 100 | 57% | 38 of 81 | 14 of 14 | 5 of 5 | 52 of 92 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 26 of 46 | 56% | 5 of 21 | 7 of 10 | 14 of 15 | 26 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Marlon Vera | 51 of 97 | 52% | 36 of 81 | 9 of 10 | 6 of 6 | 48 of 93 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 27 of 52 | 51% | 17 of 40 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 22 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 9 | |
| 3 | Marlon Vera | 71 of 123 | 57% | 53 of 102 | 12 of 15 | 6 of 6 | 70 of 121 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 37 of 71 | 52% | 29 of 59 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 5 | 25 of 55 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 14 | |
| 4 | Marlon Vera | 42 of 89 | 47% | 33 of 78 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 39 of 86 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 36 of 56 | 64% | 20 of 36 | 3 of 5 | 13 of 15 | 27 of 44 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 10 | |
| 5 | Marlon Vera | 50 of 107 | 46% | 39 of 94 | 8 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 47 of 104 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Rob Font | 33 of 58 | 56% | 24 of 49 | 4 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 33 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
We have now reached the main event, which takes place in a catchweight instead of a standard weight category as Font (19-5, 9-4 UFC) missed weight by 2.5 pounds ahead of his marque pairing against “Chito” Vera (18-7-1, 12-6 UFC). These two are the only ranked competitors that set foot in the cage this evening, but a win for Font would arguably mean less as he could not reach the bantamweight limit. Apologetic for this error, Font offers a glove touch as the two stand before gold-standard referee Jason Herzog, and Vera accepts it with a smile as he is amped up for his first UFC main event. Vera is crouched over in his corner when the fight begins, and Font does a tour of the cage while waiting for him to stand up. Vera does do so, and he throws a front kick to start things off. Font starts up with his staple jabs, and Vera replies with a calf kick. Font subsequently counters it with an overhand right, and they back off to kick one another in the legs. Font strings together a pair of one-twos, and Vera responds with a thudding body kick to the guard. Font continues to work the jab, and he chains a solid boxing combination together that knock Vera back. A big uppercut from Font reddens the nose, and he knees Vera in the chin when Vera bends over. Vera gets a little space and lets loose with low kicks, and Font continues peppering him with jabs. Font steps in with an elbow, and Vera responds with a powerful leg kick. Vera closes in and pins several uppercuts on the chin before Vera pushes off and reaches out with a front kick that is just shy of the face. Font rips the body, and when Vera advances, he goes after another crisp uppercut. Font tattoos Vera’s heavily tattooed head and body with jabs, and Vera slips a couple of punches and counters with a front kick. Font nails his man with an uppercut again, and Vera staggers back and gathers himself to absorb a few punches high and low. Font put three punches together as Vera guards up and circles on the outside, and he commits to his calf kick when Font gives him a moment to breathe. Font absorbs another leg kick, and he loads up on punches when Vera tries to kick his lead calf once more. Font walks into a punch, and he blocks a loud body kick that impacts off his arms. Font winds up with an uppercut after a jab, intercepting Vera coming in. The uppercut continues to find its home as Font targets it repeatedly, and Vera is not able to read it and tries to block them, but they still get through. Vera kicks the midsection, and when he comes in, Font meets him with a knee and his own low kick, The first round ends, and the bantamweights tensely stare down one another after the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Font
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Font
Round 2
The fighters meet in the middle to start off the second round, and they bounce closer together only to back off before engaging. Font jabs, follows it with a right and connects with a clean left to back Vera up. Font puts the ball of his foot on Vera’s chest, and he steps in with a hacking elbow that glances off Vera’s head. Vera fires off a front kick, and Font catches it and pushes Vera back. Vera, with his leg in the air, jumps with his other to kick Font a few times. Font delivers a big elbow that make Vera mockingly show that he is hurt, and he subsequently spins with a back kick to the body. Font reels from the kick and has to rebound off the fence, and Vera kicks the body again. Vera is able to counter a few punches, and Font begins to chain jabs into punches effectively as Vera’s face starts to turn red. “Chito” rips the body to make Font’s guard drop, and Font kicks his leg as a result. Vera loads up on a heavier one of his own, and Vera blocks an oncoming salvo of punches. Font has a few punches blocked, and Vera sticks his tongue out at him. As he does, a piston-like jab connects and knocks a surprised Vera back. Vera walks into another jab as Vera walks him down, but Vera does get off a leg kick. Font throws five punches in a row, and a huge body kick from Vera bends Font over. Font recovers and leans on his boxing to back Vera up, but “Chito” rallies and kicks him in the gut with a front kick. Vera works the leg with a kick, and Font strides through it to land a few punches and ends a combination with a solid left hand. Font steps through a series of punches with a knee up the middle, and Vera ricochets off the fence and marches his man down. Font kicks high, and the kick glances off the shoulder. Font carries on jabbing, and he works a right hand to the body in the midst of a punching chain. Vera walks him down and cracks him with a left hand, and Font is rocked badly and drops to his knees. Font instinctively goes after a single, and Vera bowls him over and unloads several brutal elbows. Font hangs on to the bell, and he springs right back up and goes to his corner.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Round 3
“Chito” is so fired up to start off the round, he is physically pulled back a few times by Herzog. Despite this aggressive intention, Font is the one who strikes first, jabbing his way in before shooting for a takedown. Vera scrambles and gets to his knees when dragged down, and he turns his opponent around to the fence and starts working the sides with punches and knees. Font pushes off with an elbow to break, and Vera puts everything into a head kick. Even with the kick blocked, it still has enough impact to shake Font. Font is quick to gather his thoughts and start working his uppercut, and Vera takes a front kick that goes low on the cup. Vera shrugs at Herzog when Herzog asks if he is alright, and the fight continues as they trade powerful blows. A thumping leg kick from the Ecuadorian gives Font some pause, and Font responds with a body kick. Vera steps through with a left hand, and he just misses a straight left hand across the bow. Font plants several punches on the guard, doing enough to take Vera’s focus away so he can drill a kick to the gut. Vera absorbs a leg kick, and Vera allows this so he can counter with a left hand that knocks Font back a few steps. The Bostonian marches forward, jabbing effectively and just getting up a block when a high kick aims at it. Vera unloads with a right hand, and Font greets him with several punches in a line of blows. Vera takes a clean elbow on the side of the head and barely flinches, and he kicks Font in the side. Font responds with a few punches to the body, leading Vera to tie him up. “Chito” separates and starts working kicks to the leg and side, and he slips a punch to throw one back. Font absorbs four flush punches without batting an eye, and he counters Font with a left to the midsection and a kick to the same spot. Font puts several punches together as Vera bounces off, and he splits the guard with a left. Font connects with a big left to the body, and Vera lifts up a knee that knocks Font off of his feet. Font climbs back up and wobbles back, only for Vera to chase him down and elbow him several more times. Herzog asks Font to keep fighting and moving, and Vera unleashes a fury of elbows right to the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Round 4
Font has gathered his thoughts between rounds, and even with swelling and damage on his face from the concussive blows, he is ready to continue and starts off with jabs. Vera kicks the body, and he gets knocked back with a series of punches. Vera fights through the oncoming blows to give back his own, and he jumps in the air with a knee that is barely blocked in time. They trade one after the other, with Font preferring to touch while Vera is loading up on strikes. Font pins three uppercuts right on the chin, and he follows it with a one-two as chants for “’Chito’” rain down in the building. Font chases him down and uploads, and Vera ties him up and gets kneed. Vera elbows on the break to cut Font, but the Boston native does not even register this as he stalks Vera down. Font considers a takedown before bailing on it to let his boxing speak for himself. Vera rolls with the strikes that come at him, dancing back and sliding out of the way. Vera gets in a left, and Font is a bloody mess but no less active. Font opens up with jabs and one-twos, and Vera is circling away as his volume has diminished. Vera winds up with a side kick that connects as flush as it could, knocking Font back and down to the mat. Vera goes after him to try to finish him, and he gets kicked off as Font lays on his back aiming upkicks. Vera kicks the leg from above, while Font is still getting his wits about him. Vera is letting his foe of the hook, and eventually Herzog intervenes to stand Font up. Font walks through a spinning heel kick that soars at him to throw hands, and Vera spams another that similarly is inaccurate. Font bounces around, and he absorbs a pushing kick to his knee. Vera winds up on a body kick, and the fourth round ends. Vera walks back to his corner, laughing all the way.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vera
Round 5
Battered and bruised, swollen and sore, Font is hanging in there and cleared to continue. Vera is excited to reach the fifth round in this contest, and he walks straight into a left to the body when they begin to fight. Font has his jab reach out, and he misses an overhand right as Vera slides out of harm’s way. Font comes after him and elbows him on top of the head, and Vera looks at him quizzically and slaps Font in the face with his open hand like a Diaz brother. Font is riled up, and he lands six heavy punches that knock Vera back up to the wall. Vera scores a single leg kick, and he backs away as Font walks him down. Font keeps his hands busy, and he takes a solid jab on the face. Vera tries to back him off with a side kick, and Font is not slowing as he again backs Vera to the wire with his punches. They trade low kicks, and start to put power into their punches. Vera loads up as Font stalks after him, and he has a body kick that stuns Font for a second. Like a Terminator, Font keeps going, and a front kick blasts him in the face. Font strings several punches together despite the serious level of damage on his face, and he makes Vera take a step back when he lands a front kick. Vera counters Font coming in with a left, and he smacks Font with a left as Font leads into a combination. “Chito” snaps out a jab that makes Font shake his hands out, and he kicks the lead leg a pair of times. Font gets hurt from a punch, causing him to turn around for a second, and Vera begins to showboat and point. Font steels himself and powers ahead, chasing Vera around and absorbing punches while attacking. Font nails Vera with an uppercut, leading Vera into a dance as Vera signals that he is fine. Font does not fall for anything, and instead splits the guard with a right hand. Font bites down on his mouthpiece and throws hands to the head and body, and Vera aims another standing hook kick slash side kick that cracks into Font’s dome. Font is rattled once more from the powerful strike, and he wobbles back to the wall to try to recover for the waning seconds. Instead of going for a finish, Vera walks away to celebrate, pointing in the air and even turning his back on Font at one point. Font cannot reach him as time elapses, and this thriller comes to an end. Both bantamweights raise their stock after 25 minutes of bloody, chaotic battle. An emotional Vera thanks his team and invites his family into the cage after the fight, and declares that he will be a world champion and will bring the belt back to his home country of Ecuador. With that, the uneven ESPN card wraps up, with the night ending in style after that five-rounder in the books. Next week, the UFC will travel to Arizona, with a fantastic pay-per-view offering bringing a pair of highly anticipated title fights and some other great scraps like Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson. We will be there for it, and we hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font (48-47 Vera)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Font (48-47 Vera)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vera (49-46 Vera)
The Official Result
Marlon Vera def. Rob Font via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Angelo picks Rob Font, citing his cleaner boxing and composed style. He believes Font's accuracy and volume will mirror his success against Jose Aldo, but this time Font will get the win. He notes Vera's ability to make fights ugly and his iron chin, but thinks Font is too well-rounded to get caught in a brawl. He loves the -150 odds and plans a moneyline bet on Font.
Big Brady picks Marlon Vera as a dog, citing Vera's cardio advantage in a five-round fight and his ability to grow into the fight. He notes that Vera lands bigger shots and has a ground game advantage, while Font may win the first round but will fade. Brady predicts a late finish, possibly by submission, as the damage accumulates.
Cody picks Marlon Vera as a live underdog, citing Vera's slow-starting but strong-finishing style. He believes Vera can lose the first couple rounds but come on strong late, similar to his fight against Frankie Edgar. Cody notes Vera's grappling advantage and ability to take Font down, as Font gave up takedowns to Cody Garbrandt. He suggests live betting Vera after the first round for better odds.
Daniel Levi picks Marlon Vera, citing his durability and ability to take over in later rounds. He notes that Vera's fights often start in round three, where he looks world-class, and that his cardio from running 13 miles a day will be a factor in a five-round fight. Levi acknowledges Rob Font's superior boxing but believes Vera can create chaos and make it a dirty fight, similar to the Pedro Munoz blueprint. He is concerned about Vera eating shots early but trusts his recovery. He took two units at +130.
The host picks Rob Font, citing his superior output and jab. He believes Font's volume and technical striking will outwork Vera over five rounds, especially since Vera is a slow starter. He notes Font's reach advantage and ability to stay on the outside, and doubts Vera has one-punch knockout power to change the fight. He expects a decision win for Font.
Paul leans towards Rob Font based on volume and activity, noting Font's jab and boxing should outwork Vera over five rounds. He acknowledges Vera's power in kicks and potential grappling edge but doesn't trust Vera's wrestling to secure takedowns. Paul is concerned about Font's history of getting knocked down, as seen against Jose Aldo, which could cost him rounds. He hasn't bet the fight yet but sides with the numbers.
The Guru picks Marlon Vera as an underdog, citing Vera's size and physicality as key advantages. He believes Rob Font struggles against pressure and big opponents who can muscle him around. The Guru predicts Font will win the first two rounds, but Vera will take over in the later rounds, eventually securing a submission via d'arce choke in round four or five. He notes Vera's youth (29) and ability to absorb damage, while questioning Font's power after making Cody Garbrandt's chin look okay.
Kyler Phillips - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 36 of 77 | 46% | 48 of 92 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 0 | 0 | 7:13 |
| Charles Jourdain | 0 | 58 of 104 | 55% | 88 of 142 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 1 | 0:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 14 of 21 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 3:51 |
| Charles Jourdain | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 15 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 12 of 26 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:36 |
| Charles Jourdain | 0 | 22 of 42 | 52% | 38 of 63 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 0:21 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 20 of 43 | 46% | 22 of 45 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:46 |
| Charles Jourdain | 0 | 31 of 52 | 59% | 35 of 57 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 36 of 77 | 46% | 28 of 68 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 34 of 75 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Charles Jourdain | 58 of 104 | 55% | 28 of 62 | 26 of 37 | 4 of 5 | 41 of 86 | 17 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 6 of 12 | 50% | 5 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Charles Jourdain | 5 of 10 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 10 of 22 | 45% | 6 of 18 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Charles Jourdain | 22 of 42 | 52% | 8 of 22 | 12 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 32 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 20 of 43 | 46% | 17 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Charles Jourdain | 31 of 52 | 59% | 17 of 34 | 12 of 15 | 2 of 3 | 24 of 45 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jourdain (-140); Phillips (+110)
Round 1
Once a fighter deemed on the rise at bantamweight, Phillips (12-4, 6-3 UFC) has fallen on hard times to reach his first career losing streak. Inactivity and inconsistent results have plagued “The Matrix” since his debut with the company in 2020, so he will try to take the wind out of the sails of high-flying Canadian Jourdain (17-8-1, 8-7-1 UFC). In this co-main event, referee Jerin Valel is on standby. The athletes gladly touch gloves before handling their business.
Phillips rushes forward to put his jab in the face of the Canadian and force him to fight off his back foot. Jourdain welcomes this so he can measure a flying knee, and he misses it by a small margin. Phillips shoots in on his hips to take the fight down, and Jourdain hops around on one leg and drops to his back. “Air” Jourdain sets up a triangle choke when put down, and Phillips springs out of it and positions himself in side control. Phillips jumps over into full mount, so Jourdain times twisting to his side to thwart it partially. Phillips get stuck in a partial half guard position, and Jourdain explodes back to his feet and puts his back to the wall to try to scrape Phillips off of him. Phillips completes a mat return, and Jourdain sits down to set up a kimura in hopes of sweeping. Phillips is wise to it all and smothers as he regains half guard, fighting off the bucks and shifts of the active Canadian.
Jourdain tries to fight back while on his back, slashing with elbows until he flirts with a guillotine choke while on his seat. Phillips leaps all the way over through it to get himself in a better position, preferring to stay on top rather than go for anything in particular. When Jourdain sits up, Phillips slings him down, and Phillips has to mind his P’s and Q’s as an upkick zooms right at his face. Jourdain hunts for a triangle choke, and Phillips is about to slam him out of it but lets go before the impact. Phillips controls with his wrestling, reassuming himself on top for mere seconds as Jourdain once more bucks and escapes. Jourdain leans against the wall to keep his balance, and he hunts for a guillotine choke. Phillips immediately abandons the grappling, and Jourdain points at him. Jourdain slings two huge punches, catching the American cleanly. Phillips attacks back with a vengeance, but it is Jourdain who swings more violently as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Jourdain goes right after his opponent as the round begins, backing off only when Phillips initiates a few jabs. Jourdain gets right back to crowding him after those sequences, and he boots Phillips in the gut. Phillips times the kick perfectly, sweeping the other leg to dump the Canadian on his back like a back of groceries. Jourdain scrambles and slithers his legs between Phillips to trip him up, where he briefly turns Phillips over. Phillips regains position, ignoring a possible guillotine from Jourdain to body lock him down to the floor. Jourdain on his seat thinks about another guillotine, but he does not have the leverage for it. Instead, Jourdain climbs back up even as Phillips holds his other limb, and he jacks Phillips in the jaw three times with vicious uppercuts. When Phillips adjusts his grip, Jourdain tries to actually get hold of that guillotine he is seeking, but Phillips is able to move well enough to force him back and reset. The two crash together like waves in the night, both slamming into one another with power strikes.
Jourdain misses on another jump knee, but his front kick to the stomach takes the wind out of Phillips’ sails a bit. Jourdain practically sprints at his man and belts him with a left, right and a left. Phillips kicks him in the side, but it has far less venom than before and Jourdain knows it. Phillips gloms onto the Canadian, who is looking for a standing kimura to readjust their position. They break free, and Jourdain is the aggressor, chasing “The Matrix” around and just missing with a spinning back elbow. Phillips hurls Jourdain to the mat, and Jourdain turns the tables, puts himself on his knees and threatens with a choke. There is no choke to be had, so they fight their way back up and proceed to recklessly duke it out. Phillips busts Jourdain in the chops with an uppercut and stays away from the crazy, flying moves aimed at him for the most part. Jourdain ends the round with an inaccurate rolling thunder kick.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain
Round 3
It is all offense, all the time as the two bruisers proceed to harm, damage, bludgeon and bash one another with anything they can find. Jourdain’s arsenal is a broad one, while Phillips wants to ultimately turn his attacks into ground control. As they go back and forth, Phillips finds an opening and trips Jourdain down. Jourdain stands even while Phillips is controlling him from behind, hands clasped around his waist, and he still turns Phillips around. Jourdain thanks him for the bit of grappling with an elbow on the temple and a high knee, and he keeps after Phillips with long punches. Phillips fires off an uppercut and a left hand to stun him for a second, but Jourdain does not need long to take a quick count of his teeth and leap at Phillips again with a flying knee.
When Jourdain goes to the well again with yet another flying knee, Phillips catches him in midair and slings him to the canvas. Jourdain wraps up Phillips left hand with a two-on-one wrist grip in hopes of sweeping Phillips off of him, but Phillips shuts it down with sheer force of will. Knowing Jourdain is about to stand, Phillips circles around to take his back standing. Jourdain keeps moving while pressed against the cage, spinning them about once before Phillips reasserts the controlling clinch posture. Jourdain trips Phillips to the floor, allows him to stand back up and belts him in the belly with his shin. Jourdain follows with a knee that busts Phillips’ left eyebrow wide open. Blood pours from the veritable axe wound on his face, and Phillips paws at it, knowing he suffered some real damage. He does not slow down, instead meeting Jourdain in the air with a right hand as Jourdain inevitably jumps. Phillips tries to throw Jourdain down one last time, but it is Jourdain who muscles him around and gives him everything he has to offer. The banger concludes with one last rolling thunder kick from Jourdain, this one banging into the back of his foe’s neck at the bell. The two bantamweights leave it all in the hands of the judges, likely about to become at least $100K richer for their back-and-forth rumble.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Jourdain)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Jourdain)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Jourdain (29-28 Jourdain)
The Official Result
Charles Jourdain def. Kyler Phillips via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo leans Charles Jourdain but is hesitant, noting Kyler Phillips is not a bum and has faced tough competition. He worries about Kyler's inconsistent cardio and Charles's lack of meaningful wins. He thinks Charles's experience and toughness give him a slight edge, but advises staying away from betting.
Big Brady picks Charles Jourdain, citing Kyler Phillips' poor cardio. He notes Phillips wins the first round but fades dramatically, as seen in fights against Oliveira and Font. Brady expects Jourdain to lose round one then turn it up, finishing Phillips by third-round knockout.
Cody picks Charles Jourdain, expecting him to win by decision after losing the first round. He notes that Kyler Phillips is a strong first-round fighter but fades, and Jourdain's high pace and guillotine threat will be key. He suggests live betting Jourdain after the first round.
Connor also picks Jourdain, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Phillips has the Angela Hill problem of being too active without efficient fallback options, and his wins often involve him clinging on in the last round. Jourdain can pile on pressure and is capable of attritive weapons. Connor adds that Jourdain is inconsistent but will be there all the way through, ready to pour on offense.
Daniel loves Jourdain's move to bantamweight, noting he looks incredible and has been finishing fights quickly. He believes Jourdain's pressure and durability will overcome Phillips' tendency to fade after the first round. He predicts Jourdain will win and become a top-10 contender.
Jourdain has a big advantage on the feet with high volume and power, and he is the aggressor. Phillips has poor cardio and is a point fighter. However, Jourdain's takedown defense is weak and he is easy to hold down. Phillips could grapple his way to a decision. Home advantage for Jourdain is a factor. Lean Jourdain but not confident enough to bet at these odds.
The host mentions the co-main event but does not make a pick. He only expresses excitement for the fight.
James picks Charles Jourdain to win via finish in round three. He notes that Kyler Phillips is dominant in round one but fades, while Jourdain is strong in round three and has finishing upside. He sees Jourdain's trajectory and self-belief as factors.
The host thinks Charles Jourdain is the side here, noting that Phillips has cardio issues and struggles under pressure. He expects Jourdain to apply pressure, work Phillips down, and find a finish in round two or three. He highlights Jourdain's dangerous guillotine and improved BJJ, and believes Phillips will either slow down or get caught in a submission if he grapples.
Paul agrees with Cody, picking Charles Jourdain. He highlights that Phillips wins first rounds but fades, and Jourdain's work rate will take over. He also likes the split decision prop and suggests live betting.
Zane picks Jourdain because he is a finisher and Phillips has a self-exhausting style, starting strong but fading. Jourdain is a diligent low kicker, body kicker, and throws body punches, and he's big for the division. Zane notes that Phillips has never been submitted, but Jourdain's guillotine is good. He also points out that Phillips' reach advantage isn't enough to keep Jourdain at bay, and Jourdain is consistently there making dynamic decisions.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 49 of 151 | 32% | 54 of 156 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 1 | 96 of 232 | 41% | 102 of 238 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 29 of 67 | 43% | 29 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 0 | 22 of 69 | 31% | 22 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 4 of 26 | 15% | 9 of 31 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 1 | 41 of 81 | 50% | 47 of 87 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:17 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 16 of 58 | 27% | 16 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 0 | 33 of 82 | 40% | 33 of 82 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 49 of 151 | 32% | 33 of 126 | 13 of 22 | 3 of 3 | 49 of 151 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 96 of 232 | 41% | 52 of 161 | 26 of 50 | 18 of 21 | 79 of 207 | 5 of 7 | 12 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 29 of 67 | 43% | 18 of 52 | 8 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 29 of 67 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 22 of 69 | 31% | 12 of 47 | 5 of 15 | 5 of 7 | 22 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 4 of 26 | 15% | 2 of 22 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 41 of 81 | 50% | 27 of 65 | 9 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 27 of 60 | 2 of 3 | 12 of 18 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 16 of 58 | 27% | 13 of 52 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 33 of 82 | 40% | 13 of 49 | 12 of 24 | 8 of 9 | 30 of 78 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oliveira (-175), Phillips (+145)
Round 1
Wrapping up the unpaid portion of the event, two speedy bantamweights collide. While they are both ranked in the UFC’s top 15 at 135 pounds, the losing party may fall off on Monday or Tuesday. Phillips (12-3, 6-2 UFC) needs to get back in the win column, but to do so he has to outhustle heavy-handed Brazilian “LokDog” Oliveira (22-3, 3-0 UFC). The two will be joined in the Octagon by referee Chris Hill, and they opt against touching gloves while he watches on.
Oliveira says hello with a head kick rather than bumping gloves, and this fires up Phillips. Phillips strikes back with his own high kick and flurry of punches, hurting the Brazilian and keeping his defenses ready to stop the incoming takedown. Phillips hurts “LokDog” with another right hand, springing round side to side and pecking his foe with sharp jab and a body shot. Oliveira whiffs on a big left hook, and Phillips fires off a wheel kick that is too high and misses the target. Phillips’ right hands stagger Oliveira twice, and Oliveira has to shake it off but has his hands low. Oliveira walks Phillips down, absorbing single targeted strikes while not connecting on much power. “LokDog” gets off a front kick, and he takes a right hand on the temple. When Phillips misses on a punch, Oliveira tries to chase him down, but “The Matrix” is elusive as ever.
Oliveira drives a front kick that sounds like it ricocheted off the cup, but Phillips does not express concern and shoots in for a takedown. Oliveira staves it off and absorbs a few kicks to the midsection. Phillips is on his bouncing bike, avoiding the worst of the Brazilian’s right hands while not letting the kicks reach him either. Phillips goes toto the body and head, and Oliveira lines up a kick to the ribs. Phillips slips punches, lands his own and drives a knee to the chin that stuns Oliveira for a second. Oliveira shrugs and goes back to chasing Phillips with his hands low. Oliveira tosses out kicks from both legs, and he lowers himself down to hurl bungalows. Phillips takes the power cleanly and tries to keep him at bay with kicks, but Oliveira is starting to time and catch them. Oliveira kicks low, and Phillips jumps over it and springs away from a spinning back kick. Phillips scores a knee and falls over, and he gets back up and finds Oliveira chasing him with attacks. Phillips defends with his back to the wall as the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Phillips starts off the round with is own head kick to mirror what Oliveira did in the previous round, and he gets away from the wild kicks of his opponent that are feet away from his intended target. The elusive Phillips stays light on his heels, only for Oliveira to wind up a right hand that sends him flying. “The Matrix” gets back up, takes another huge right hand and then turns away and gets kicked in the face. Oliveira continues to bombard Phillips with attacks, bowling him over and finding himself lording over Phillips with standing-to-ground punches. Oliveira lowers himself in the guard, and he positions himself flat on his adversary. Oliveira briefly flirts with an arm-triangle choke until sitting up to adjust his position, and Phillips kicks him off in the chest and stands back up. Oliveira tries to hold him down or wrap up a sub, but Phillips is free and out of danger.
Oliveira tries to bring back the danger, clubbing Phillips with looping punches including a left hand that stings Phillips again. Phillips works his way back to his feet, and Oliveira stands in front of him, hands down, taking deep breaths. The Brazilian explodes back into his offense, tagging Phillips with punches that “The Matrix” would have evaded previously. He ducks a spinning wheel kick and tags Phillips with three punches down the forward bow. Oliveira kicks low and swings high, and when Phillips hits him back, he does not budge. “LokDog” tries to catch the kick, chest heaving, and he fights off a takedown and trips Philips up to put him on his back. Oliveira is pushed off when landing some ground strikes, but he hurls himself back into top position. The round ends with Oliveira riding out this position.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Round 3
Oliveira motions to the crowd to pump them up, and bows at his opponent. They resume with five minutes left to battle it out, and Oliveira starts by walking Phillips down. Phillips remains on his bike, kicking and probing with single strikes while trying to avoid the booming blows aimed at his face. Oliveira dodges a wheel kick and plods forward, slamming his shin on Phillips’ calf and drawing a short limp from him. Phillips keeps moving while Oliveira is going after him, with his head kick blocked before Oliveira gets to him and belts him in the face with three punches. “LokDog” hammers the front leg again, takes a body shot and misses on his counters. They both let go with big right hands, and Oliveira’s calf kick does further damage. Oliveira misses on a few punches and a high kick, while Phillips is jabbing aplenty. Phillips scores a body kick, and Oliveira punches him in the chest back. Once more, the Brazilian attacks the front leg, and movement from Phillips is starting to dwindle.
As Phillips tries to push his way forward, Oliveira drills him with a close-range spinning back kick to the chest. Oliveira races forward behind looping hooks, and his spinning wheel kick misses the mark. Phillips kicks him in the face, and Oliveira still keeps his hands down and shrugs off anything that catches him. Oliveira tries to connect with three big punches, and he ducks down and shoulder-checks his adversary. Phillips tries to back him off with hooks, and Oliveira ducks, moves and kicks him. The Brazilian dodges, weaves, connects and shoots for a takedown. Phillips shuts the latter down but eats a hard kick on the way out. Oliveira nods when he gets elbowed in the face, because he has a plan: punch Phillips in the face. The plan succeeds. Again and again. Phillips keeps backpedaling but is featuring his jab more than usual, and he mixes in a few side kicks to not let “LokDog” get to him. Oliveira bull-rushes him with punches, tackles Phillips to the mat and is bounced back to his feet. He proceeds to chase Phillips around the cage until time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira (29-28 Oliveira)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira (29-28 Oliveira)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira (29-28 Oliveira)
The Official Result
Vinicius Oliveira def. Kyler Phillips via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira, calling him a dog who has beaten better competition than Kyler Phillips. He notes Oliveira's aggression, power, and takedown defense. He is surprised by the -180 line and considers it a gift, suggesting it could be parlayed.
Big Brady hesitantly picks Vinicius Oliveira due to Kyler Phillips' poor cardio. He believes Phillips wins the first round dominantly but fades, allowing Oliveira to take over in later rounds. He predicts a split decision for Oliveira, though he dislikes the pick.
Connor picks Vinicius Oliveira based on his relentless pressure, durability, and ability to bully opponents despite defensive flaws. He notes that Oliveira's aggressive style and strength make him difficult to wrestle, and Kyler Phillips tends to gas under pressure. Connor believes Oliveira's power and intimidation will overwhelm Phillips, who lacks knockout power and often fades late.
The host sees this as a perfect matchup for Oliveira to showcase dominance, citing his performances against Ricky Simon and Said Nurmagomedov. He expects Oliveira to shut down Phillips's grappling and striking and produce a round three knockout.
The MMA Guru picks Vinicius Oliveira over Kyler Phillips, predicting a third-round finish. He criticizes Phillips' inability to adjust and his tendency to fade in later rounds, as seen against Rob Font and Howie PA. Oliveira is praised for his pace, durability, and pressure, having schooled Ricky Simon and broken Said Nurmagomedov. The Guru believes Oliveira will break Phillips down and finish him, comparing the matchup to Oliveira's win over Nurmagomedov.
Zane agrees with Connor, picking Oliveira due to his pressure and power. He notes that Oliveira's flat-footed style makes him hard to take down, and Phillips' tendency to gas under pressure is a key factor. Zane also mentions that Phillips is not a knockout puncher, which favors Oliveira.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 0 | 61 of 137 | 44% | 65 of 144 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 38 of 125 | 30% | 50 of 143 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 7 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 10 of 26 | 38% | 21 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:34 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 0 | 31 of 58 | 53% | 34 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 14 of 48 | 29% | 15 of 49 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 0 | 23 of 60 | 38% | 24 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 14 of 51 | 27% | 14 of 52 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Font | 61 of 137 | 44% | 50 of 122 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 56 of 131 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 38 of 125 | 30% | 19 of 98 | 9 of 14 | 10 of 13 | 32 of 112 | 1 of 6 | 5 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Font | 7 of 19 | 36% | 6 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 10 of 26 | 38% | 8 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 7 | |
| 2 | Rob Font | 31 of 58 | 53% | 23 of 48 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 28 of 55 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 14 of 48 | 29% | 6 of 38 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 44 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Rob Font | 23 of 60 | 38% | 21 of 57 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 14 of 51 | 27% | 5 of 37 | 2 of 6 | 7 of 8 | 14 of 49 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Phillips (-425), Font (+330)
Round 1
Sitting in the co-main event slot is a bantamweight contest that will reestablish or coin a new contender in the talent-rich division. Having lost four of his last five, Font’s (20-8, 10-7 UFC) back is about as against the wall as it gets. As much as Font has largely struggled, Phillips (12-2, 6-1 UFC) has flourished, winner of his last three—albeit with one win in 2022, one in 2023 and the latest in March. This potential passing of the torch encounter will be officiated by referee Keith Peterson, and the 135ers touch ‘em up without a shred of nonsense between them. Font jabs his way directly into action, landing a few punches and setting up more. As Font presses forward, Phillips shoots in and easily hits a takedown, landing in side control and laughing off a guillotine choke defense from the New Englander. Phillips steps over from one side to the other, shifting to half guard as he sets up an arm-triangle choke. When Phillips abandons the choke, he secures side control almost effortlessly. Font turns to the other direction, but he stops doing so when realizing this will give his back up. Phillips controls from on top without unleashing much offense, posturing to the other side to drop down a single elbow. Any time Font tries to scramble, Phillips easily sees it coming and lays into Font with powerful elbows. Font turns over after fighting off a submission setup to explode back to his feet, and Phillips greets him with a spinning wheel kick. Font keeps his guard up and plods forward, scoring an uppercut and swinging a second before shooting in for a double. Font takes Phillips’ back standing, and Phillips breaks out of the position without much concern. Phillips scores a one-two, Font throws back, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Font stalks out of his corner to engage in the second round, no-selling a leg kick so he can chamber and loose a few hard right hands. Font busts Phillips in the chops with a particularly strong right, and “The Matrix” responds with a shot that plants Font on his back. Font fights much more aggressively to get to his feet, walking up the wall and pressuring Phillips as much as he can. Font trails after Phillips, keeping his guard high and using tight boxing combinations to keep Phillips honest. Font winds up with a right hand that misses the mark, and he lets Phillips throw first so he can counter and tie him up. Font decides to disengage, taking a body kick to the side and chasing after Phillips to make Phillips turn tail and run. Phillips resets and kicks Font in the ribs, and he leans back after a leg kick to get popped with an overhand right. Font digs a body shot, and Phillips escapes and is eating powerful blows while his hands are low and his chin is high in the air. Font stabs his foe in the sternum with his foot, and he ignores a lazy high kick aimed his direction so he can blast Phillips in the face with a right hand. Fond chomps down on his mouthpiece and nails Phillips again, and swelling quickly develops around the Arizonan’s left eye. Phillips keeps on his bike, and Font is a Terminator walking through anything aimed at him so he can tag Phillips with power. A Phillips spin strike fails, as Font keeps his hands high and works the body to open up the head. Phillips tries to tie him up, and he pushes off to fire off a one-two and a spinning back fist. Phillips clinches, and Font wrenches himself away so he can keep the suffocating pace. Phillips gets backed off courtesy of several jabs, and Font utilizes the clinch to wear further on Phillips. Right before the bell, Phillips hits a foot sweep and puts Font on his seat.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Font
Round 3
Phillips starts off the round backing away from his opponent, and he lands a leg kick and shoots for a successful takedown. Font hits the ground and starts hand-fighting, eventually settling for muscling back to his feet. Phillips hacks at him with a tomahawking elbow when upright, and Font laughs it off and slugs him in the face with a right hand. Font loads up two more times on heavy rights, and both whoosh past “The Matrix.” Font surges into action behind his punches, landing and turning Phillips around. Phillips steels himself and swing back for vengeance, cracking Font with a right hand and rushing to the side to get a modicum of space. Font will not let him breathe for long, bearing down on him and crushing him against the cage wall. Phillips escapes and ducks an overhand right, kicking the side as he further escapes. Font sticks out a jab, and he sets up an uppercut when Phillips splits the distance to take him down. Font keeps pursuing Phillips fearlessly, getting his calf kicked hard but keeping his balance to stride ever forward. Font’s punches are telegraphed, as are Phillips’ takedowns. The latter is what comes next, but Font stops it in its tracks. Phillips breaks away before eating a strike, and he backpedals and has his left hand up to block Font’s wide right hooks. Phillips clips Font with his own short flurry, and Font tags him with one overhand right to slow him again. Font’s momentum leads to another clinch, and Phillips frames off with his knee. Font loads up time and again on his booming right, and Phillips gives him a little extra something to think about with a wheel kick. Font catches Phillips with a right hand on the way out, and Phillips’ legs are loose but he is still with it. Font keeps after him, watching for a spin kick that comes and advancing to sling final leather. Font stuffs one final takedown, and time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Font (29-28 Font)
The Official Result
Rob Font def. Kyler Phillips via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Kyler Phillips, citing the decline of the New England Cartel's takedown defense. He notes Rob Font's vulnerability to wrestling and believes Phillips' diverse striking and wrestling will make Font look old and slow. He expects Phillips to mix in takedowns and win comfortably. He criticizes the New England Cartel's inability to evolve.
Big Brady picks Kyler Phillips by any method. He notes Font's durability is diminishing, he gets wobbled often, and has poor takedown defense. Phillips can win on the feet or by takedown. He expects Phillips to get it done, possibly by knockout, submission, or decision, given Font's toughness.
Connor also picks Phillips but with hesitation, noting that Phillips' early speed and variety are key, but he fades late. He thinks Font could come on strong in the third round if Phillips hasn't put him away. Connor is not fully convinced about Phillips yet, but sees the takedowns and speed as enough to win over three rounds.
This fight was not discussed in the transcript.
Font has been on a bad slump. His volume style can be effective, but Phillips will land more significant strikes and mix in takedowns. Phillips will grind out a win on the scorecards.
The Guru picks Phillips over Font, citing Font's susceptibility to being grappled and his age (37). He notes Phillips has explosive takedowns and offensive grappling, as shown against Pedro Munhoz, and trains with Sean O'Malley. He expects Phillips to mix things up and win a decision, though he acknowledges Font is a good boxer.
Zane picks Phillips, citing his speed and variety early in the fight to stump Font for two rounds. He acknowledges that Phillips tends to fade in the third round, but believes Font's linear style and lack of adaptability will allow Phillips to build an insurmountable lead. He notes that Phillips may also use takedowns, though that could gas him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 52 of 140 | 37% | 52 of 140 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 114 of 275 | 41% | 115 of 276 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 19 of 54 | 35% | 19 of 54 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 55 of 120 | 45% | 56 of 121 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 20 of 42 | 47% | 20 of 42 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 32 of 75 | 42% | 32 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 13 of 44 | 29% | 13 of 44 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 27 of 80 | 33% | 27 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 52 of 140 | 37% | 23 of 99 | 17 of 24 | 12 of 17 | 48 of 134 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 114 of 275 | 41% | 74 of 224 | 17 of 24 | 23 of 27 | 111 of 269 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 19 of 54 | 35% | 11 of 44 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 17 of 50 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 55 of 120 | 45% | 41 of 104 | 6 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 52 of 114 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 20 of 42 | 47% | 7 of 22 | 7 of 12 | 6 of 8 | 20 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 32 of 75 | 42% | 16 of 56 | 8 of 9 | 8 of 10 | 32 of 75 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 13 of 44 | 29% | 5 of 33 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 11 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Pedro Munhoz | 27 of 80 | 33% | 17 of 64 | 3 of 7 | 7 of 9 | 27 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Phillips (-238), Munhoz (+195)
Round 1
In the talent-rich no-nonsense bantamweight division, speed sells, and both Munhoz (20-8, 2 NC; 10-8, 2 NC UFC) and Phillips (11-2, 5-1 UFC) are buying. Nine years the elder, Munhoz has served as the more active man of the two over the last few years. Referee Keith Peterson is ready to keep up with these two talented competitors, whether they need 15 seconds or 15 minutes to get things done. The fighters touch ‘em up to begin, and Munhoz moves forward, only to dodge a low kick and a pair of jabs. Phillips reaches his foe with a second leg kick, and Munhoz leaps forward to grab the leg and take the fight down. Phillips spins with a wheel kick that draws audible gasps but does not connect, and he chains a few punches into it to keep Munhoz from crowding him. “The Young Punisher” gets inside to land a right hand, and Phillips scores back with his own offense. Munhoz intercepts a striking Phillips to tackle him to the mat. Munhoz leaps into the guard, but Phillips kicks him off and pushes off with a finger when getting to his feet. Peterson sees this and allows Munhoz to recover, and Munhoz only takes a few seconds before he is ready to go. The two bantamweights jab at one another, and Phillips whips a head kick after. Both men throw leg kicks, and Munhoz crowds him and lands punches that force Phillips to turn away and escape on the edge of the cage. Munhoz pushes out a front kick, and Phillips times a right hand over the top. The two measure one another in single strikes, and Phillips kicks low and buzzes the hair with a kick. Phillips keeps his long jab outstretched, and he leans back when Munhoz wings inaccurate but powerful punches at him. Phillips dodges and spins with a back kick, and he drives a knee on the chin that stings Munhoz. Phillips unloads with a barrage of punches and kicks, and he further tags Munhoz in his long series of strikes. Munhoz gathers himself and throws back, and he knees him in the face. Phillips jabs out his finger while rattling off a long combo, and he jams it into Munhoz’ eye. Phillips also cuts Munhoz, and it was a punch that cause it and not the poke. When they get back to it, Munhoz wipes his eye and engages in a brawl. Phillips sticks and moves, landing flush and getting shoved back with a front kick. Phillips nods at him and eats a left hook that cuts him on the cheek. The fast and furious round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
The cut on the eyelid of Munhoz is not sealed between rounds, and blood leaks from it to start off the round. Phillips sprints forward to attack, and Munhoz is right there to greet him with strikes including a pair of low kicks. Phillips has a one-two bounce off the guard, and he comes up short with a hook kick. Munhoz checks a low kick, and he dips down to rip a left to the body. Phillips kicks him back in the leg, and Munhoz is right there to chop him back. They both crack one another with left hooks, and Munhoz slips and scores a right. Phillips connects with a solid right hand, and Munhoz’ chin is made of sterner stuff. Phillips grazes the hair with a fast head kick, and he swats away a jabbing front kick. Phillips rifles off several jabs while Munhoz comes at him, and he evades the heavier of the strikes coming his way. They both go low with a kick, and Munhoz has his guard raised to block a standing elbow but it cannot defend against a body kick after it. Munhoz keeps his head movement on full display as he dodges and ducks vicious strikes like a spinning back fist, and he remains right close to Phillips. Phillips kicks him in the mouth, and Munhoz takes it cleanly and wades forward to throw back. Munhoz shoulder-rolls when a right hand comes down the pipe, and he parries a left hook. The two trade leg kicks, and Phillips hops forward and stomps the side with a kick. Phillips digs a left to the body and right to the head, and Munhoz does not bat an eye. Phillips chains punches together into a low kick, and he slides back before Munhoz can reach him. Munhoz scores a single body kick, but it is one-and-done while Phillips is largely more active. Phillips gets off a right and a left, and he leapfrogs Munhoz when Munhoz ducks down. Phillips spins with a wheel kick that tags Munhoz, and he stops a potential takedown from coming at the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 3
Munhoz sprints out of his corner ready to engage, and he tosses out a glove touch before darting in to shoot for a takedown. Phillips staves it off and pops out several jabs, keeping him away from the right hand of the Brazilian. They both smack one another with leg kicks, and then aim body shots. Phillips lands a right to the body and a spinning back kick to the other side. Munhoz jabs his way in and misses with an overhand right, and Phillips jabs and paws at the damaged eye of his opponent. Phillips shimmies as he dodges, and he flicks out a front kick that lands on the chin. The two clinch up, but nothing comes of it as Phillips is out of range when he tries to reach a left hand on the break. Phillips strafes to the side and lands a right hand up top along with a body kick. Munhoz scores a low kick, but Phillips is right in his face with punches and his own leg kick. Munhoz snaps the head back with a jab, and he absorbs a clean leg kick in response. Phillips looks to counter a leg kick with a right hand over the top, and he bounces and moves to flick out jabs. Munhoz times a right hand while Phillips is bouncing around, and Phillips has to reset. Phillips slaps a leg kick in the outer lead leg, and he steps in with a left hook and whips a head kick up on the other side. Munhoz does not bat an eye, and he spins with a back kick aimed at Phillips’ head but cannot reach him. Munhoz prods out a front kick, only to get driven back by punches and a head kick. Phillips kicks low to stop Munhoz from getting to him. It temporarily disrupts Munhoz’ constant forward movement, but Munhoz is quick to get back to racing forward. Phillips has a head kick bounce off the guard, and he clips Munhoz with an overhand right. “The Matrix” styles on his opponent with punches that leads to a spinning kick, and the fight ends as Phillips attempts and lands a back flip to celebrate.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips (30-27 Phillips)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips (30-27 Phillips)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Phillips (30-27 Phillips)
The Official Result
Kyler Phillips def. Pedro Munhoz via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo leans Kyler Phillips due to his youth, cardio, and well-rounded game, but acknowledges Pedro Munhoz is the better fighter on paper. He notes Munhoz is 37 and has only one win in five fights, while Phillips is younger and has momentum. He won't bet because the odds on Phillips are too wide for an untested fighter.
Big Brady picks Kyler Phillips to win by decision. He likes Phillips' movement, volume, and sneaky power, and notes that Munhoz has been outlanded in recent fights. He expects Phillips to win the first two rounds and possibly drop the third, winning 29-28. He also mentions a PrizePicks play on Phillips under 2.5 takedowns.
Cody acknowledges Phillips' speed and athleticism but worries about his cardio and durability. He thinks Phillips can win the first two rounds with movement and volume, but Munhoz's durability and pressure could lead to a late finish or decision for Munhoz.
Daniel leans towards Phillips due to youth, speed, and explosiveness. He notes Phillips goes balls to the wall and may fatigue, but Munhoz has also slowed down in later rounds recently. Daniel is not interested at the price but picks Phillips to win.
Phillips has a speed, footwork, and technical striking advantage that should allow him to dance around at range and touch up Munhoz. He tends to fade in the third round due to cardio issues, but he should win the first two rounds clearly and survive the third. Munhoz is a tough veteran with power and forward pressure, but his short reach and tendency to get outpointed by technical strikers is a concern. Phillips should put on a similar performance to his win over Barcelos, using movement and output to win a decision.
Paul agrees with Cody's assessment, noting Phillips' reach and speed advantages. He thinks Phillips can win the first two rounds and hold on in the third, but acknowledges the risk of Munhoz's leg kicks and pressure.
The MMA Guru picks Pedro Munhoz, arguing that Kyler Phillips' flashy striking style relies on hurting opponents, but Munhoz has never been dropped or wobbled. He notes Munhoz's low kicks and durability, and that even Sean O'Malley couldn't do much to Munhoz. He predicts Munhoz will win a decision, possibly 29-28, or even a draw if Phillips wins early rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 1 | 72 of 187 | 38% | 80 of 196 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 46 of 116 | 39% | 52 of 124 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 1 | 30 of 68 | 44% | 31 of 69 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 18 of 45 | 40% | 20 of 48 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 22 of 58 | 37% | 29 of 66 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 9 of 27 | 33% | 11 of 30 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 0:54 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 20 of 61 | 32% | 20 of 61 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 0 | 19 of 44 | 43% | 21 of 46 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 72 of 187 | 38% | 40 of 146 | 18 of 26 | 14 of 15 | 62 of 174 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 5 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 46 of 116 | 39% | 20 of 87 | 15 of 17 | 11 of 12 | 39 of 105 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 30 of 68 | 44% | 14 of 48 | 9 of 13 | 7 of 7 | 26 of 63 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 18 of 45 | 40% | 12 of 38 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 13 of 37 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 22 of 58 | 37% | 16 of 51 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 9 of 27 | 33% | 2 of 20 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 20 of 61 | 32% | 10 of 47 | 6 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 19 of 60 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Raoni Barcelos | 19 of 44 | 43% | 6 of 29 | 6 of 8 | 7 of 7 | 18 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Phillips (-198), Barcelos (+164)
Round 1
Kevin MacDonald will ref this bantamweight pairing. Phillips opens with a leg kick and a 1-2. Barcelos blocks a body kick. A right connects for the Brazilian. Phillips with a stiff jab and then he partially lands an overhand right. Barcelos catches a low kick and drives Phllips into the fence. Phillips jumps guard and hunts for an armbar. He kicks Barcelos off him and hustles back up. Barcelos with a right uppercut. They trade, and Barcelos eats a head kick but catches the leg. Phillips frees himself from the body lock. Phillips moves well, landing a 1-2. Phillips has a takedown stuffed and Barcelos tags him on the exit. Moments later, a right puts Barcelos on his seat. Barcelos recovers quickly, however. Barcelos is cut on the bridge ofhis nose. Barcelos stalks his man against the fence and lands some combinations. They tie up and Barcelos is still throwing heavy leather. Phillips fires back. Barcelos flicks out a nice jab then backs up Phillips with some heavy hooks. They clinch and Phillips shoves him off. Phillips lands a glancing head kick that Barcelos catches. They continue to trade until the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Phillips lands a two-punch combo, catches a leg and takes Barcelos to the mat. Phillips drops some elbows while Barcelos is active with his guard. Barcelos eventually scrambles up. Barcelos blocks a high kick. Phillips with a leg kick. The pace has slowed from Round 1. Barcelos lands a right and a left hook, then shoots for a takedown. Phillips denies it. Phillips snaps his foe’s head back with a straight right. Another Phillips high kick is blocked, but he connects with a 1-2. Barcelos changes levels and has Phillips in a body lock. Phillips tries to use a kimura to defend, but Barcelos maintains his grip. He lifts Phillips and dumps him on the mat. Phillips rolls for a kneebar in a scramble and that allows him to stand. Phillips flicks out a couple of jabs. Barcelos pressures forward and they trade knees in close. Phillips fires off another jab and misses a combination at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 3
Phillips grabs a leg, lets it go and knees the midsection. Barcelos with a solid low kick. Phillips answers a high kick with a standing side kick to the gut. Phillips stays on the outside, but Barcelos partially lands a knee upstairs. Phillips kicks the body but it bounces off Barcelos’ elbow. Barcelos with an inside leg kick. He catches Phillips’ kick and dumps him to the canvas, but Phillips bounces right up. A Barcelos right uppercut digs to the body. Phillips is content to remain on the outside moving laterally. Barcelos stalks him and lands a jab. Barcelos just misses an uppercut through the guard of his foe. A front kick down the middle lands for Barcelos and he pressures with punches. Phillips lands a counter right in response. Barcelos shoots for a takedown against the fence and briefly pulls him down. Barcelos releases the body lock and deftly throws a kick upstairs. That draws a smile from Phillips before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (29-28 Phillips)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (29-28 Phillips)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (29-28 Phillips)
The Official Result
Kyler Phillips def. Raoni Barcelos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Raoni Barcelos despite his recent skid, believing he is the better fighter everywhere except age and youth. He notes Barcelos has superior wrestling, technical striking, and BJJ. He warns that Kyler Phillips is sloppy and lacks one-punch power, so Barcelos should control the fight with wrestling. Angelo has a half-unit bet on Barcelos at +143 but says this is his last time betting on him and advises not to tail blindly.
Big Brady is very uncertain. He notes Barcelos has elite takedown defense, so Phillips' wrestling won't work. However, Barcelos is 36, on short notice, coming off a brutal KO loss, and has declined. Phillips is coming off a PED suspension. He thinks it will be a close striking match and picks Barcelos by split decision with little confidence, saying he'd rather be on the dog money.
Cody picks Barcelos as a plus-money underdog, citing his well-rounded skills, wrestling, and cardio. He notes Phillips' tendency to fade in later rounds and his questionable takedown defense. He believes Barcelos can survive the first round and take over as Phillips gasses. He also suggests a live bet on Barcelos after the first round.
Daniel Levi picks Raoni Barcelos, though he admits he has no strong read. He likes Barcelos' well-rounded skills (black belt in BJJ, Brazilian wrestling team, good striking) but is concerned about his age (36). Levi notes that Phillips is explosive but slows down badly in fights, and that Barcelos' output and durability could be factors. He is not worried about the Umar Nurmagomedov knockout, crediting Umar's skill. Levi sees this as a tough fight and prefers the dog price on Barcelos.
James thinks Barcelos is past his prime, citing recent wobbles and a knockout loss to someone with no KOs. He believes Phillips can knock him out and that the minus 200 line is about right. He also mentions Phillips could get takedowns to consolidate rounds.
Phillips has a style that gives Barcelos problems: he moves a lot, uses distance striking and kicks, and stays out of range. Barcelos has a better gas tank and could push into deep waters, but it will be too little too late. The fight is closer than the odds suggest, but Barcelos's time has passed and Phillips is a bad stylistic matchup. I'd rather pass on this matchup entirely.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting Phillips' cardio issues and Barcelos' wrestling advantage. He mentions that Phillips has been taken down by lesser grapplers and that Barcelos is the toughest opponent he has faced. He sees value in the plus money.
The host picks Kyler Phillips, citing his youth (28), diverse striking, and BJJ. He notes Barcelos is 36, coming off a knockout loss, and has slowed defensively. He believes Phillips will land fight-impacting shots and can capitalize on Barcelos' diminished chin and slower movement. He thinks Phillips may get a finish but is confident in a decision win. He finds the -200 line a bit high but still picks Phillips.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 80 of 164 | 48% | 90 of 176 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 2 | 0 | 2:33 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 0 | 55 of 153 | 35% | 57 of 155 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 34 of 64 | 53% | 36 of 66 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:37 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 0 | 15 of 49 | 30% | 16 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 38 of 85 | 44% | 44 of 91 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 0 | 35 of 94 | 37% | 36 of 95 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 10 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 0:34 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 80 of 164 | 48% | 52 of 135 | 14 of 15 | 14 of 14 | 63 of 146 | 8 of 9 | 9 of 9 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 55 of 153 | 35% | 32 of 123 | 5 of 10 | 18 of 20 | 53 of 147 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 34 of 64 | 53% | 21 of 51 | 8 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 24 of 53 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 15 of 49 | 30% | 10 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 5 of 7 | 15 of 46 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 38 of 85 | 44% | 25 of 72 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 8 | 36 of 83 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 35 of 94 | 37% | 19 of 75 | 4 of 7 | 12 of 12 | 33 of 91 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 8 of 15 | 53% | 6 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 |
| Marcelo Rojo | 5 of 10 | 50% | 3 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
We keep things moving right along to the bantamweights, in what should be a fast-paced, high-intensity battle between Phillips (9-2, 3-1 UFC) and Rojo (16-7, 0-1 UFC) that was initially set for the main card but for late lineup shuffling. Taking charge of the cage is referee Dan Miragliotta, and the fighters touch gloves to begin what could be a fun one. At any rate, it will be better than the last fight, if one could call it that. Phillips leads off with a leg kick, and Rojo fires right back. Phillips aims a right hand over the top, and he jabs up high, throws a right hand and a left to the body. “Matrix” spins with a body kick, and he backs away when Rojo tries to counter him. Rojo just misses with a looping right hook, and Phillips delivers a one-two across the bow. The American cannot connect with a spinning wheel kick, but he does get off a flying knee. Phillips goes low with a kick that trips Rojo to the mat, and he charges ahead with a three-punch salvo. Rojo looks to counter, and Phillips changes things up with a takedown entry. Although it does not succeed, Phillips backs away just enough to whip a spinning wheel kick around, and it clatters off the high guard of his foe. They both fire off right hands at the same time, and Phillips rushes in to clip the Argentinian with an elbow and a left hand before tripping “Pitbull” to the mat. Phillips claims Rojo’s back quickly when Rojo stands, and he drags Rojo’s legs out and steps over to full mount. Rojo quickly recovers half guard, but a few short elbow strikes from Phillips have opened a cut on the side of Rojo’s eye. Rojo sits up, gets to his knees and stands up, but not before eating a crisp knee to the body on the way up. Phillips resets and paws out with a jab, and he darts out of the way when a combination whizzes past him. A high spinning back kick lands flush on Rojo’s arms, and he follows it with a jab that split the guard. Rojo fires back, only to get countered with a right hand on that damaged eye. Phillips is just a little too high from yet another spinning wheel kick, and Rojo ducked just in time. After a brief clinch, they break away where Phillips tags Rojo with a swatting left hook. Phillips steps in with a right hand, and he sweeps Rojo down to the mat with 15 seconds to go. Rojo throws his legs up for a sneaky armbar, and Phillips stands up to pull his arm out, lowering himself back down right as the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Rojo strides out of his corner to attack at the beginning of Round 2, but Phillips beats him to the punch and works the body with a left hand. Chaining punches into a spinning back kick, Phillips has Rojo guessing. Rojo swings back, mostly hitting air, and he sticks out a leg kick but gets met with three punches. The Argentinian attacks the lead leg again, leading Phillips to do the same with his own strikes. “Matrix” fires off a head kick that collides with the raised guard, and he sets his leg down and is already on to stringing jabs into a combination. Rojo throws caution to the wind, swinging wildly but inaccurately, as Phillips jabs away and starts drilling Rojo’s calf with repeated kicks. Rojo meets him in the middle with a jab back, but the kicks from Phillips are quickly doing damage and changing the color of Rojo’s lead calf. Phillips is loose, light on his feet, hopping in and out of range to toss a flying knee or piercing jab out. Rojo catches Phillips at the end of a right hand after blocking a head kick, but Phillips’ strikes are straighter and sharper, and therefore finding their target at a much higher clip. The American springs out of the way when Rojo bears down on him, and he continues battering Rojo’s calf as swelling grows. Rojo fights to through the pain to swing for the fences, and as soon as he commits to a big punch, Phillips dives low for a takedown. Rojo pops right back up before staying down for more than one second, and Phillips feeds him a steady diet of jabs on an increasingly reddening nose. Rojo scores to the body, forcing Phillips to crash forward and attempt a body lock trip. Rojo sneaks in a knee and an uppercut before they separate, and the round ends with Phillips blocking a high kick.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 3
Coming out to the third round, Rojo’s lead leg is hamburger, swollen and bruised badly. Phillips picks up where he left off there, attacking the damaged leg before assailing his man with a chained takedown that set Rojo on his back. Phillips lands in side control, and he grips on to a double wrist lock that he uses to claim mount brilliantly. In a very high mount, Phillips locks up a high mounted triangle, and he sits up to smash Rojo in the head with punches and elbows. Rojo turns over, in an effort to slide his neck out.
When Phillips lands on his back, he is already setting up an armbar while he still holds on to the triangle choke. The combo submission is tight as can be, and there is no way out for the Argentinian. “Matrix” elicits the tap right when Rojo stands, with Rojo surrendering before losing consciousness or hyperextending his elbow.
That’s a rare triangle armbar on the books for the highly touted prospect from Arizona.
The Official Result
Kyler Phillips def. Marcelo Rojo R3 1:48 via Submission (Triangle Armbar)
Angelo picks Phillips, expecting a competitive back-and-forth fight where Phillips leans on his wrestling. He notes that Phillips has made mistakes in the past that cost him, but believes his technical striking and grappling will be enough. He suggests a plus 3.5 prop bet on Rojo as an underdog.
Big Brady is very impressed with Phillips, calling him a skilled striker with good wrestling and BJJ. He believes Phillips should take the fight to the mat, where Rojo has been submitted multiple times. He predicts Phillips will win by first round submission. He notes Phillips' cardio is a concern but Rojo's cardio is also questionable. He thinks Phillips will look his price tag.
Cody defends the price, noting Phillips is young and talented. He thinks Phillips' cardio issues are overblown and that he should dominate Rojo, who is a brawler with poor cardio. He expects Phillips to win, possibly by finish.
Daniel Levi picks Kyler Phillips to win a decision, but expects a tough fight. He notes that Phillips is more dynamic and explosive early, but tends to slow down. Rojo is a durable dog who can drag Phillips into deep waters. Levi thinks Phillips will win but not cover the -430 line.
Phillips is the more skilled fighter with good movement and jiu-jitsu. Rojo is a brawler with knockout power but poor submission defense. Phillips should take the fight to the ground and submit Rojo. Phillips' cardio is a concern if he gasses, but he should finish early. The under 2.5 rounds is a good prop if plus money.
Paul picks Phillips but thinks the price is too high. He notes Phillips has cardio issues but should dominate early. He warns that Rojo could be dangerous if he survives the first round, and that the weight cut for Rojo is a concern.
The MMA Guru picks Kyler Phillips by decision, citing his well-rounded skills and learning from the Paiva fight. He expects Phillips to drop Rojo early but not chase the finish, winning a clear decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raulian Paiva | 1 | 74 of 132 | 56% | 95 of 155 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 0 | 1 | 3:02 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 51 of 117 | 43% | 72 of 147 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:32 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raulian Paiva | 1 | 45 of 70 | 64% | 61 of 86 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 1:01 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 13 of 32 | 40% | 19 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 | |
| 2 | Raulian Paiva | 0 | 13 of 28 | 46% | 15 of 32 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:37 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 23 of 47 | 48% | 23 of 47 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 3 | Raulian Paiva | 0 | 16 of 34 | 47% | 19 of 37 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 30 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raulian Paiva | 74 of 132 | 56% | 62 of 115 | 7 of 11 | 5 of 6 | 43 of 95 | 8 of 9 | 23 of 28 |
| Kyler Phillips | 51 of 117 | 43% | 37 of 96 | 14 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 41 of 102 | 7 of 10 | 3 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raulian Paiva | 45 of 70 | 64% | 41 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 39 | 3 of 3 | 23 of 28 |
| Kyler Phillips | 13 of 32 | 40% | 9 of 28 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | |
| 2 | Raulian Paiva | 13 of 28 | 46% | 9 of 23 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 26 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 23 of 47 | 48% | 17 of 38 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 38 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raulian Paiva | 16 of 34 | 47% | 12 of 28 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 30 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyler Phillips | 15 of 38 | 39% | 11 of 30 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Two top-flight teams will wage a proxy battle as the MMA Lab’s Phillips (9-1, 3-0 UFC) faces ex-flyweight and Team Alpha Male rep Paiva (20-3, 2-2 UFC) at bantamweight. The co-main event will tolerate zero nonsense as it draws oversight from referee Keith Peterson, and the gloves are touched to clock in this fight. Paiva is quick on the draw, with a few crisp punches when Phillips tries to close the distance. Phillips opens up with kicks, and he cracks the Brazilian with a right hand. Phillips opens up with a flying knee, and when he lands, he spins with a back fist that glances off the target. Paiva appears to have recovered from the big blow and partial knockdown to throw at Phillips, but “The Matrix” enters the matrix as he dodges several strikes and ducks down to clash heads with his advancing opponent. Phillips kicks the body, and his leg is caught and he takes two right hands and succumbs to a takedown from the position. When Phillips walks up the fence, he is able to spin around and spin Paiva around with a kimura. Phillips lifts his foe up in the air and slams him down like he was carrying groceries, and he lets Paiva up so that he can land a flashy kick to the body. Paiva appears unflustered and he walks Phillips down, but he eats a fierce right hand that hurts him. Another wobbles Paiva, who shoots in for a single and is stuffed. Phillips makes him pay with several punches, until the Brazilian bails on it and stands up. Phillips kicks him in the head, and spins around with a heel kick that clacks on the side of Paiva’s head. Paiva allows him to land the strike so that Phillips falls to the ground without any balance, and he climbs into Phillips’ guard to slow things down. Paiva postures up and lands a few long punches, but Phillips is quick to reverse him and put Paiva on his back. Phillips takes side control, and slices over to mount but is pulled back to half guard in an exchange. Paiva eats an elbow, scrambles back to his knees, takes another elbow, and stands back up. When Paiva stands back up, Phillips rocks him with another brutal right hand, and the Brazilian pushes for a desperation takedown. Paiva can barely stand, and Phillips cracks him with another right hand. A nasty elbow cracks the Brazilian on the jaw, and he collapses in a heap. The fight not quite over, Phillips dives in to finish the job. He continues to club Paiva with everything he has, and Paiva miraculously survives to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Phillips
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-8 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Phillips
Round 2
The gloves are touched to begin the round, and Paiva comes out of his corner swinging for the bleachers. Phillips spins with a wheel kick to try to throw things off, and Paiva drops down to pursue a takedown. As soon as Phillips drops to a knee, he rolls for a leglock, and Paiva abandons the position before anything gets set up. Both men get back to their feet, and Phillips is ready with pep in his step and a blistering elbow square on the chin. Paiva takes it flush and fires back with a straight right hand, knocking Phillips off of his feet. Paiva sees that Phillips may be hurt and a little gassed, and he chases Phillips around the cage and unloads a fury at him. Paiva scores a clean uppercut that stings Phillips badly, and even though he may be bloodied and has taken some damage, he appears the fresher man and ignores a flying knee when Phillips tries to recover. Paiva pursues a takedown, and when Phillips fights it off, the latter takes a very deep breath before the midpoint of the round. Phillips dives forward for a tackle takedown, landing it and putting the Brazilian on his back. Paiva scoots his way to the fence, and he calmly stands back up while Phillips tries to keep him down. Paiva is able to break free, and he lands a one-two as Phillips is tiring fast. Paiva ducks a punch and grabs a body lock to try to plant “The Matrix” on the ground, but Phillips stops it and lands a spinning back elbow. When Paiva looks to do some damage with a right hand, Phillips evades it, grabs the back and drags Paiva down to the ground. Phillips takes back control and fishes for a choke, but Paiva rolls through to his knees. Phillips flattens Paiva out to set up a choke, and Paiva turns and nearly gives up mount. Phillips turns to try to get a better position, and he is forced to stand up. Phillips smashes Paiva in the face with a huge right hand, and Paiva eats it like an acai bowl and blasts Phillips back with one of his own. The spent fighters end the round pressed against the wall.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Paiva
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Paiva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Paiva
Round 3
The bantamweight battle well worth the price of admission, both men touch gloves to begin the last round. Whose cardio is better is anyone’s guess. Paiva starts the dance with a few jabs, and Phillips comes back at him with a long right hand and a possible takedown entry. Paiva stuffs it without much effort and connects with a right hand that wobbles Phillips. Paiva opens up with a right and a left as Phillips bears down on him to take him down, stopping the attempt before it gets too far. Phillips shrugs off a right hand on the jaw to duck down low for a single, and both men fall to the ground with neither in an advantageous position. Phillips ducks face-first into an uppercut, and Paiva lays into him with a few punches but cannot hurt him. Phillips sells out with a huge right hand, and the two fighters are so wiped out, they are slipping all over the cage and wobbling after every punch. Phillips escapes a few strikes but takes some more when Paiva gives chase, and Phillips attacks with a spinning kick that is well short of the mark. Phillips goes all-in for a double leg takedown, scooping the Brazilian’s legs out beneath him bot not able to ground him for long. Paiva scores a right hand only to get pursued with another takedown, and Paiva grits it out and turns him around to take him down. Phillips defends with his legs to set up a reversal, but he does not have the energy to land it and instead is stuck on his back while Paiva is on top of him. The Brazilian holds on tight, not wanting “The Matrix” to get off any more wild strikes on his feet, and he gets off some ground-and-pound to stay busy. Paiva in half guard continues to control his opponent and land effective if not damaging punches. At the 10-second clapper, Phillips explodes to his feet and is ready to brawl. Phillips smashes his fist into the granite chin of Paiva, and Paiva throws everything he has back at his foe. One final flurry ends the fight, and this one could be close – close enough to be dead even, depending on how the judges see the rounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Paiva (28-28)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Paiva (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Paiva (28-28)
The Official Result
Raulian Paiva def. Kyler Phillips via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
Angelo picks Raulian Paiva because he thinks Paiva is a real threat on the ground with jiu-jitsu and is a good striker. He notes that Kyler Phillips has wrestling and fight IQ, but Paiva could cause problems. He is not confident and is not betting on this fight. He likes the more/more on monkey knife fight, expecting a decision.
Big Brady is very high on Kyler Phillips, especially after his impressive win over Song Yadong. He notes Paiva is moving up from 125 lbs and has poor striking defense (51%) and a negative striking differential. He expects Phillips to mix in takedowns (3 per 15 min, 63% accuracy) and win a convincing decision, as Paiva has been taken down in every UFC fight except one. He considers this a step down in competition for Phillips.
Cody picks Phillips, calling him a legitimate top ten guy. He praises Phillips' fight IQ, striking, and wrestling, noting his performance against Song Yadong. He thinks Paiva's move up to 135 removes his size advantage and that Phillips is on a different level. He considers Phillips a safe parlay piece.
Daniel Levi picks Kyler Phillips to win, acknowledging Paiva's toughness but believing Phillips is too clean and will edge a decision. He notes that Paiva is dangerous with nothing to lose, but Phillips' footwork and technique are superior. Levi expects a close fight but sees Phillips' skill set prevailing, though he wouldn't play the -300 line against Paiva.
Jacob picks Kyler Phillips as his lock of the week, calling him the 'king of lock of the weeks.' He praises Phillips' fight IQ and wrestling, noting that he gets takedowns when needed. He believes Phillips will dominate with wrestling and timely takedowns. He is very confident despite the short-notice opponent moving up in weight.
The host leans toward Raulian Paiva as a dog, noting his striking and Muay Thai. He believes Paiva's move to 135 pounds will benefit his cardio and durability. He thinks the line is too wide and Paiva can make it a close fight. He likes Paiva by decision at +455 and the moneyline at +240.
Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing that Paiva's biggest advantage was his size at 125, which is gone at 135. He notes Paiva hasn't looked ultra impressive and arguably lost to Zalgus. He sees Phillips as a surgeon and expects him to win on the feet or ground.
The Guru confidently picks Phillips, citing his size advantage at bantamweight, chain takedown ability, and mixing strikes with takedowns. He notes Paiva is a short-notice replacement and likely views this as a free payday. He predicts a first-round rear-naked choke submission, as Paiva has been outgrappled before.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 0 | 67 of 161 | 41% | 89 of 189 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:06 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 59 of 142 | 41% | 69 of 152 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 1:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 21 of 39 | 53% | 28 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 27 of 59 | 45% | 28 of 60 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 20 of 61 | 32% | 23 of 64 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 19 of 47 | 40% | 22 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 0 | 26 of 61 | 42% | 38 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:01 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 13 of 36 | 36% | 19 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyler Phillips | 67 of 161 | 41% | 39 of 120 | 20 of 32 | 8 of 9 | 67 of 158 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| Song Yadong | 59 of 142 | 41% | 38 of 112 | 16 of 23 | 5 of 7 | 54 of 137 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyler Phillips | 21 of 39 | 53% | 13 of 29 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 21 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 27 of 59 | 45% | 14 of 40 | 11 of 15 | 2 of 4 | 25 of 57 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Kyler Phillips | 20 of 61 | 32% | 13 of 45 | 7 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 20 of 59 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Song Yadong | 19 of 47 | 40% | 14 of 41 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 44 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Kyler Phillips | 26 of 61 | 42% | 13 of 46 | 7 of 9 | 6 of 6 | 26 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Song Yadong | 13 of 36 | 36% | 10 of 31 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Back in the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series, not every fighter was signed off a win, even if they scored a stoppage. This was the case for Phillips (8-1, 2-0 UFC), who notched a 46-second finish and then had to compete two more times before earning a spot on the roster. Two wins in the UFC have led to him meeting “Kung Fu Monkey” Song (16-4-1, 1 NC; 5-0-1 UFC) tonight, with the latter undefeated at bantamweight inside the Octagon. This 135-pound clash will draw officiating from referee Mark Smith, and a glove touch starts things off. Phillips quickly marches forward with a one-two, and he swings a leg kick shortly after it. “Matrix” is elusive and throwing strikes from distance, and he gets off a head kick that rolls off Song’s shoulder. Phillips sticks out a long jab, and Song strides forward with a shovel uppercut. Phillips scores a body kick, and a right hand when Song bears down on him. Song gets off a jab and then a left hand gets Song’s attention. Phillips nails Song with a head kick, and Song miraculously stays upright only to take a crisp spinning back kick to the body. The Chinese fighter bounces off the cage and survives a flurry from Phillips, and he gathers himself to throw back at Phillips. Song swings a right hand, and Phillips ducks it and scores a leg kick on the way out. Song stings Phillips with an uppercut, and he avoids a long jab and a sweeping leg kick. Song spins with a hook kick that bounces off Phillips’ guard, and the American is no worse for wear as he sticks out a stiff jab. Song stabs his toes into Phillips’ midsection, and he eats a one-two as he takes a step back. Song leaps in the air with a knee that glances off its intended target, and Phillips sticks him with a single right hand. Song gathers his thoughts and flicks out a few jabs, and he gets smashed on the chops with a monster right hand. Song does not even wobble, but Phillips uses the momentum to bowl Song over and take the fight down. “Kung Fu Monkey” simply powers his way back up to his feet, and he tries to throw back but Phillips is well out of the way in time. Phillips delivers a stiff left hand to the jaw, and Song times an uppercut counter that makes Phillips shake his head. Phillips tries to get off a head kick, and Song walks through a low kick to make his opponent stumble. Song tries to clinch up, and the two jockey for position on the cage as they spam knees. Phillips tries to separate and gets elbows in the face, and he backs off to absorb a spinning back kick on the torso. Phillips lets him have it with a barrage as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 2
Phillips begins the round with a long jab, and he takes a right hand on the chops when he aims for a leg kick. Phillips drills Song with another head kick, but the Chinese fighter is completely unfazed and ready to brawl with a pair of hooks. Phillips sticks out a few jabs and the two start trading violently. Both men clip the other with right hands, and Song backs off to connect with a kick to the midsection. Song presses his man into the fence, and Phillips pushes off and nails Song with a spinning back kick that surprises “Kung Fu Monkey.” Song gathers his thoughts, circles around, and tries to kick Phillips in the chest. Both men land right hands at the same time, and Phillips resets to score a leg kick. Song targets the body with a few kicks, and Phillips ducks down to sling a huge right hand. Song does not even register that he took a shot, and he ducks a spinning wheel kick that zooms past him. Song throws a monster right hand that Phillips is barely able to duck in time, and both swing and hit nothing but air. Phillips dings him with a right hand, and when Song steps forward to kick, Phillips nearly drops him with a jab. Song does a quick count of his teeth and starts throwing looping shots as Phillips is backed into the fence, and Song chases him down with big strikes. Phillips ducks a punch to hit a speedy takedown, and Song bucks him off but cannot get the American away from him. “Matrix” climbs over and takes the half guard using a fierce elbow from above, and the two scramble until they both split up and stand. Phillips gets off a right hand, and then circles to pepper Song with a few jabs. Song crashes the pocket with several huge punches, and he stings Phillips with a right hand. Song is ready to throw with bad intentions, and he does just that until the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 3
Phillips starts off with a quick jab, keeping Song at bay, who has already enabled headhunter mode. Song tries to lob huge shots to figuratively take Phillips’ head off, and “Matrix” avoids most of the damaging blows. Phillips lands a few jabs and shoots in for a takedown, but Song stuffs it and does not go down. Song takes a right hand to rip four punches to the body, and he gets Phillips’ attention with a left hook to the jaw at the end of it. Phillips chops down the lead leg with a kick, and Song scores a counter right hand across the forward bow. Song swings recklessly, and he clips Phillips with a ferocious left hand that makes Phillips back away to the fence. Phillips jabs a few times to keep an aggressive Song at bay, but “Kung Fu Monkey” is ready to brawl. A right hand from the Chinese fighter opens up a cut on the corner of Phillips’ left eye, and Phillips answers with a spinning wheel kick that does not land flush. Song plants his fist on the side of Phillips’ head, and Phillips throws back and misses the mark. Song rushes in with a pair of punches that force Phillips to ricochet off the fencing, and he circles and sticks out a jab. Song tattoos his fist on the chin three times, so Phillips responds with a takedown that puts Song on his back. Song scoots his way to the fence to sit up, and when he tries to wall-walk, Phillips circles around to take his back. Phillips cannot secure the body lock, and instead Song reverses him and places Phillips flat on his back. Song sits up to land punches, and Phillips closes his guard to lock the fighter down and ride out the round. Song gets off some ground-and-pound from above, and Phillips rolls for an armbar and a kneebar as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Song (29-28 Phillips)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Song (29-28 Phillips)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Song (29-28 Phillips)
The Official Result
Kyler Phillips def. Yadong Song via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Big Brady picks Song Yadong, initially leaning toward fading him but changing his mind after tape study. He notes Yadong's takedown defense is solid and he lands harder shots. He questions Phillips' chin, recalling Yadong's power against Marlon Vera. He predicts a knockout win for Yadong.
Daniel picks Song Yadong to win a decision, arguing that Song is undervalued after close fights with top competition. He believes Song's level of competition is higher than Phillips' and that Song's power and durability will be too much.
Phillips has a five-inch reach advantage and good movement, which should help him stay at range and avoid Yadong's power. Yadong has cardio issues in the third round, and Phillips can potentially secure a takedown there. The host picks Phillips by decision.
The MMA Guru picks Song Yadong over Kyler Phillips. He notes Yadong's takedown defense, KO power, and youth, while Phillips has not beaten anyone significant. He believes Yadong is more battle-tested and will win by 29-28 unanimous decision, with Phillips possibly coming back in the third.
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Kyler Phillips, citing the decline of the New England Cartel's takedown defense. He notes Rob Font's vulnerability to wrestling and believes Phillips' diverse striking and wrestling will make Font look old and slow. He expects Phillips to mix in takedowns and win comfortably. He criticizes the New England Cartel's inability to evolve.
Big Brady picks Kyler Phillips by any method. He notes Font's durability is diminishing, he gets wobbled often, and has poor takedown defense. Phillips can win on the feet or by takedown. He expects Phillips to get it done, possibly by knockout, submission, or decision, given Font's toughness.
Connor also picks Phillips but with hesitation, noting that Phillips' early speed and variety are key, but he fades late. He thinks Font could come on strong in the third round if Phillips hasn't put him away. Connor is not fully convinced about Phillips yet, but sees the takedowns and speed as enough to win over three rounds.
This fight was not discussed in the transcript.
Font has been on a bad slump. His volume style can be effective, but Phillips will land more significant strikes and mix in takedowns. Phillips will grind out a win on the scorecards.
The Guru picks Phillips over Font, citing Font's susceptibility to being grappled and his age (37). He notes Phillips has explosive takedowns and offensive grappling, as shown against Pedro Munhoz, and trains with Sean O'Malley. He expects Phillips to mix things up and win a decision, though he acknowledges Font is a good boxer.
Zane picks Phillips, citing his speed and variety early in the fight to stump Font for two rounds. He acknowledges that Phillips tends to fade in the third round, but believes Font's linear style and lack of adaptability will allow Phillips to build an insurmountable lead. He notes that Phillips may also use takedowns, though that could gas him.
Comments (1)
He didn't like the jab, took him down, single leg controlled from side. Rd2 rob gets up, keeps it on the feet, won the round. Same in rd3. Rob more hungrier.
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