UFC Fight Night Predictions: Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera: fight card, start time, odds, live stream

Rob Font and Marlon Vera are eager to prove they have what it takes to beat the best bantamweights on the planet. Font and Vera will square off in the main event of UFC Fight Night on April 30 hoping to make a big impression on the matchups at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Font (19-5) is on his comeback tour after being outpointed by Jose Aldo in December. Font had moments of success against the legendary featherweight champion, but it was a clear unanimous decision loss for Saturday’s headliner. He snapped a four-fight winning streak, the best of Font’s tenure in the UFC, against game opponents including former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Moraes. Font has been closely studying “Chito” ahead of their clash on Saturday, particularly Vera’s recent victory over Frankie Edgar.

“It’s dangerous. I don’t think there’s a place where it’s completely dangerous,” Font told CBS Sports. “I think in general if he’s on fire or having a good night. Him doing his thing is when he mixes it up with kicks and elbows and takedowns. In general I would say I have to be prepared for everything. I don’t think there’s one thing that really stands out.

“He stood his ground. He lost a couple of rounds, I think the first and half of the second. And he came back. That’s hard to do at this level, especially against a guy like Frankie Edgar. I mean courage. He’s brave. It’s not easy to finish and he’s also not easily discouraged.”

Check out the full interview with Rob Font below.

Vera (18-7-1) deals with the violence, but will have to work inside Font range and crisp boxing. “Chito” bounced back from a loss to Aldo in December 2020 with impressive wins over Edgar and Davey Grant. Vera actually attributes the loss to Aldo for raising him to a new level. Intent on making a good impression at Font’s expense, “Chito” wouldn’t be surprised to see a shot at the UFC bantamweight title in the near future from him.

“I think a big win on Saturday night would put me in contention for the title,” Vera told reporters at Wednesday’s press day. “Depending on how the cards are played at the top, I can either go straight for the belt or have another fight. But a win this Saturday puts me there.”

“I really think that losing to Aldo the way I lost, I’m never the person who wants to say ‘oh, he was hanging in there.'”[ing] me down.’ That is not a thing. I was the one who was supposed to run away and kick his ass. I don’t believe in lifts, I don’t think the referee should be standing. If you’re fighting someone who’s boring or wants to keep you down, fuck it. Winning is so much better than fucking losing, good for them… I think losing like that almost killed me inside. Because I know how close I came to finishing him off, I know how tired he was. It all depends on me. Mentally, I am focused, I will never blame a coach or a person, everything is my fault. I think that loss just made me angry, I wasn’t happy with myself.”

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The veterans round out the rest of the card on Saturday night, as former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski takes on Jake Collier in the co-main event. Arlovski, who held the title in 2004, has done well to remain relevant as something of a goalie in the division. Also, Andre Fili is back in a featherweight contest when he fights Joanderson Brito. And burly featherweight Darren Elkins is back as he takes on Tristan Connelly.

Here is the UFC Fight Night card with the latest odds on Caesars bookmaker.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: April 30 | Start time: 7 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: UFC Apex: Las Vegas, Nevada
Stream: ESPN+

Prediction

Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera: Font is the favorite heading into UFC Fight Night, but just barely. Oddsmakers have this fight close to a pick’em and that feels justified even though Font failed to make 2.5 pounds on Friday. Font has some of the best boxing and distance striking in the division, but his early success by knockout in the UFC hasn’t followed him up the ladder. Vera remains one of the most powerful bantamweight top 15 finishers with the ability to kick, elbow, body shot and choke her way to victory. Font puts up a lot of fight, but only has a one-inch reach advantage against the dangerous Vera. Arguably “Chito” has the highest ceiling as his combination of skills could cause serious problems for everyone at bantamweight. However, while Vera may have scored an ugly, perfect knockout of Edgar at UFC 268, it came after losing Round 1 and most of Round 2 against a veteran who is on the decline. Expect Font to work out the kinks in his amazing defense that allowed Aldo to land a big right hand. Font should be able to keep his distance and attack Vera with boxing combinations for 25 minutes. Source via UD

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