Cody Garbrandt didn't feed into his worst instincts against Rob Font in the main event of Saturday's UFC Fight Night, keeping those flaws that sent the former bantamweight champion spiraling on a three-fight losing skid largely at bay. Even as he kept himself under control, Garbrandt's effort was not enough as Font put on a striking clinic to take a clear decision victory in Las Vegas' UFC Apex.
Garbrandt, a fighter who has long leaned on his knockout power, appeared to have entered the Octagon with a gameplan to instead focus on his wrestling background, scoring takedowns with ease in the opening round. Garbrandt was not able to keep Font down, however, and Font worked behind a tremendous jab to keep Garbrandt from ever getting comfortable on the feet.
Once the jab was established, it opened up every other strike in Font's arsenal, including a crisp straight right hand that frequently snapped the former champion's head back.
"He hurt me a couple times but I got my head together, stayed disciplined and stopped trying to look for the finish and stayed behind my jab," Font said after the fight. "I said I have the best jab in the UFC and that's for sure."
That jab was the key to Font dominating on a statistical level, landing 180 significant strikes to just 62 from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt tried to fire back in desperate fifth-round flurries, but Font was able to survive a few late scares to cruise to the final scorecards, picking up his fourth straight victories by scores of 48-47, 50-45 and 50-45.
The win puts Font in the conversation for a future title shot at 135 pounds, which he said is something on his wish list, along with a fight with the winner of the upcoming bout between Cory Sandhagen and former champion TJ Dillashaw.
"I'll be patient, have to see how the championship fight plays out," Font said. "Then, Cory and TJ are fighting. I want to get in between any of those guys there, the winner of the TJ fight or get straight to the belt."
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Elsewhere on the card, Carla Esparza established herself as a top contender in the strawweight division once again with a dominant TKO over Yan Xianoan. Esparza, who won the inaugural 115-pound title in 2014, earned her fifth straight victory with the stoppage of Xiaonan. It was also her first stoppage since that championship. Now, she's staring down the chance to rematch current champion Rose Namajunas soon. Xiaonan dropped her first fight since 2010 in the losing effort.
CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC Fight Night card.
UFC Fight Night card and results
- Rob Font def. Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision (48-47, 50-45, 50-45)
- Carla Esparza def. Yan Xiaonan via second-round TKO (punches)
- Jared Vanderaa def. Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Norma Dumont def. Felicia Spencer via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ricardo Ramos def. Billy Algeo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Jack Hermansson def. Edmen Shahbazyan via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)