Bantamweight contenders Rob Font and Marlon Vera headlined Saturday’s UFC Vegas 53 combat card on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
No. 5 ranked Font missed weight at Friday’s weigh-in, tipping the scales 2.5 kilos over the allotted bantamweight restrict. He relinquished 20 % of his combat purse and the match was moved to a catchweight bout. Vera entered the bout ranked No. 8 trying to bounce into the highest 5 of the load class.
Font discovered his vary early within the opening spherical. He landed his jab and put collectively combos. Late within the body, Font discovered success with uppercut. Vera delivered leg kicks and linked along with his jab, however Font dictated the tempo. Font’s output doubled Vera’s within the first spherical.
Font opened the second body with a tough mixture. Vera responded with a spinning again kick to the physique. Vera linked with a heavy physique kick halfway by the spherical whereas Font continued to press the tempo. Late within the spherical, Vera landed a left hook that knocked Font down. Vera adopted Font to the canvas however couldn’t end the combat earlier than the tip of the spherical.
Font shortly labored to get the combat to the bottom within the third body. Vera defended the try and the 2 separated. They stood in entrance of one another and exchanged for a lot of the spherical. Font continued to make use of a excessive output of strikes. Within the closing moments of the spherical. Vera linked with a leaping knee that badly harm Font. Font staggered again and fell to the canvas. Vera labored to place Font away however Font survived to the tip of the spherical.
Font tried to proceed pushing the tempo. He linked with combos however Vera’s punches and kicks have been doing extra injury. Vera delivered a head kick that landed cleanly. Font was downed for the third time within the combat. Vera let Font again to his ft however Font once more survived the spherical.
Font got here out aggressive within the remaining body. He punched in quantity and pressured Vera. Vera delivered a heel kick to the top that badly harm Font within the remaining seconds. Font’s face was badly swollen and bloodied when the ultimate bell sounded.
UFC Vegas 53 live results: Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera
When the scorecards have been tallied, all of the judges scored the combat for Vera. The scorecards learn 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46.
“It’s been a protracted street for me, a protracted journey, however onerous work. Laborious work,” Vera stated following the combat. “Once you work had you’ve got essentially the most probabilities to outlive right here. Once you do every little thing to win, while you put every little thing apart, life provides you a superb victory.”
With the win, Vera desires to face an opponent inside the highest 5 rankings in his subsequent combat. His final aim is to carry UFC gold again to his dwelling nation.
“That is superb. I’m dwelling the dream. I”m going to be world champion. I’m bringing the belt to Ecuador. Consider that,” Vera stated. “I’m able to go. I’ll be again within the health club on Wednesday. There’s no cease. Once you cease, you keep behind. I’m a tough employee, and every little thing I’ve in my life I earned it. Let’s go.”
