The UFC is finalizing a bantamweight bout between Rob Font and Marlon Vera to headline a UFC Fight Night event next month, multiple sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
Contracts are expected to be signed shortly. The 135-pound contest will serve as the main event of UFC Fight Night on April 30. The UFC has not announced a venue for the event but it’s expected to be in Las Vegas.
Font (19-5) is coming off a five-round decision loss to former featherweight champion Jose Aldo in December. Fighting out of Massachusetts, Font had been on a four-fight win streak prior to the loss, with notable victories over Cody Garbrandt, Marlon Moraes, Ricky Simon and Sergio Pettis.
“This is a good fight for the fans,” Font’s head coach and manager Tyson Chartier said. “It’s just a fun fight. Chito (Vera) is exciting. Rob is exciting. Great striking, great on the ground. It’s a great matchup.”
Vera (20-7-1) has won two in a row since suffering his own loss to Aldo in 2020. He is coming off a third-round TKO of Frankie Edgar last November. Font and Vera are the UFC’s Nos. 5 and 8-ranked bantamweights, respectively.