Tag: Rob Font

UFC Fight Night 252 payouts: Nine fighters receive six-figures for Seattle battles

UFC Seattle payouts were released by the Washington State Department of Licensing on Thursday, including Song Yadong vs. Henry Cejudo.

Nine fighters walked away from the UFC’s recent return to Seattle with six-figure disclosed payouts, according to the Washington State Department of Licensing (WSDOL), which oversaw the event.

UFC Fight Night 252 took place Feb. 22 at Climate Pledge Arena and featured 12 bouts.

Main event competitors [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] and [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] joined [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag], [autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag], [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag], [autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag], [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag], [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag], and [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag] as the fighters who received six-figures.

Thursday, MMA Junkie acquired state documents of the disclosed payouts from WSDOL, which can be seen below. Forbes was first to report the payouts Wednesday.

It’s important to note the amounts are strictly the disclosed amounts for show and win. They do not include side letter payments, sponsorships, or discretionary/performance bonuses. Additionally, they do not include taxes or miscellaneous deductions.

  • Song Yadong: $320,000 (includes $160,000 win bonus)
  • Henry Cejudo: $150,000
  • Anthony Hernandez: $144,000 (includes $72,000 win bonus)
  • Brendan Allen: $210,000
  • Rob Font: $320,000 (includes $160,000 win bonus)
  • Jean Matsumoto: $26,000
  • Jean Silva: $90,000 (includes $45,000 win bonus)
  • Melsik Baghdasaryan: $35,000
  • Alonzo Menifield: $240,000 (includes $120,000 win bonus)
  • Julius Walker: $12,000
  • Ion Cutelaba: $190,000 (includes $95,000 win bonus)
  • Ibo Aslan: $35,000
  • Melquizael Costa: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
  • Andre Fili: $110,000
  • Mansur Abdul-Malik: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
  • Nick Klein: $10,000
  • Ricky Simon: $160,000 (includes $80,000 win bonus)
  • Javid Basharat: $30,000
  • Austin Vanderford: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
  • Nikolay Veretennikov: $12,000
  • Nursulton Ruziboev: $74,000 (includes $37,000 win bonus)
  • Eric McConico: $12,000
  • Modestas Bukauskas: $96,000 (includes $48,000 win bonus)
  • Raffael Cerqueira: $10,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

UFC Fight Night 252 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Andre Fili leads way with $21,000

UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance money was sent out after UFC Seattle, with veteran Andre Fili topping the card.

SEATTLE – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 252 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $185,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 252 took place at Climate Pledge Arena in Washington. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 252 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Jean Matsumoto[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Alonzo Menifield[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Julius Walker[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Melquizael Costa[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Mansur Abdul-Malik[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Nick Klein[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Javid Basharat[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Nikolay Veretennikov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Eric McConico[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rafael Cerqueira[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2521 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,224,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $32,242,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto prediction, pick, start time for UFC Fight Night 252

Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto came together on extremely short notice after Dominick Cruz withdrew from UFC Seattle. How will it play out?

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] and [autotag]Jean Matsumoto[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC Fight Night 252 main card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 2-2-1
UFC main cards, 2025: 10-10-1

Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto UFC Seattle preview

Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) has experienced mixed results of late, snapping two-fight skids twice while losing four of his past six. Font is coming off a unanimous decision over Kyle Phillips last October. A victory would give Font his first winning streak since 2021. … Matsumoto (16-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is a 2023 Dana White’s Contender Series alum who’s won his first two UFC bouts, most recently a unanimous decision against Brad Katona last October.

Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto UFC Seattle expert pick, prediction

Despite having Dominick Cruz drop out of the main event, the UFC matchmakers were able to salvage the Font side of the equation by booking Matsumoto on short notice.

Matsumoto was originally slated to fight in two weeks, so the 25-year-old won’t exactly be coming off the couch. The UFC was nice enough to book this at a catchweight of 140 pounds due to the one-week’s notice nature of it all, but that could ultimately benefit Font, who is big for the division.

I was admittedly surprised to see Matsumoto favored, but I’m guessing that the oddsmakers like the age gap, accompanied by the fact that Matsumoto can be an aggressive grappler in spots. Couple that with Font’s porous takedown defense percentage, and the potential pathway for the Brazilian becomes a bit more clear.

However, when you actually go back and watch the tape, you’ll see that Font has quietly improved his defense along the fence (a place where Matsumoto makes a majority of his attempts). In addition, Font has also sharpened his transitional grappling and getup game, utilizing underhooks in conjunction with wall walks or using butterflies to create space and invert.

The important thing to note about the options listed above is that none of them involve serious front-headlock exposure, which is the area where Matsumoto makes his money.

Matsumoto also has power on the feet, but his lack of head movement and angles could feed him right into the collar ties of Font.

I suppose Font crapping the bed isn’t out of the equation, but I really like the chances of the New England native in this spot. A club and sub for the American is quietly on the table, but I’ll officially pick Font to take this one on the scorecards.

Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto UFC Seattle odds

The oddsmakers and the public are slightly favoring the Brazilian fighter, listing Matsumoto (-168) and Font (+136) via FanDuel.

Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto UFC Seattle start time, how to watch

Font and Matsumoto are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:10 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

Dominick Cruz reportedly injured, out of UFC Fight Night 252 fight against Rob Font

Former UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz will not be making his return to action in Seattle.

[autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag]’s return to action has been delayed.

The former UFC bantamweight champion is out of his scheduled main card fight against [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 252 in Seattle. The event takes place Feb. 22 at Climate Pledge Arena and is headlined by another 135-pound matchup between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong.

MMA Junkie confirmed the news of Cruz’s withdrawal with two sources following a first report of an injury from Cageside Press.

Details of the injury to Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) were not revealed. The fight would have been the 39-year-old’s first in over 30 months. The last appearance for the well-respected former champ and UFC commentator was against Marlon Vera at UFC on ESPN 41 in August 2022, a bout he lost by knockout in the fourth round.

The UFC is currently seeking a replacement so that Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) can remain on the card. Font, 37, was last in action in October, when he picked up a unanimous decision over Kyler Phillips to snap a two-fight skid.

With the news, the current UFC Fight Night 252 lineup includes:

  • Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong
  • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia
  • Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Jean Silva
  • Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
  • Rob Font vs. opponent TBA
  • Adam Fugitt vs. Billy Ray Goff
  • Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
  • Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Chidi Njokuani vs. opponent TBA
  • Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein
  • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira\
  • Javid Basharat vs. Ricky Simon

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Dominick Cruz vs. Rob Font: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC Fight Night 252 co-main event

Rob Font enters UFC Seattle as a favorite over former bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz.

[autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag] will return to action for the first time since 2022 to face [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag].

Dominick Cruz vs. Rob Font preview

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) was last in action Aug. 13, 2022, against Marlon “Chito” Vera in the main event of UFC on ESPN 41. Cruz was knocked out in the fourth round, a result that halted the momentum of back-to-back wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz in 2021. … Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) has made four appearances since Cruz’s last fight. Over that time, Font has gone 2-2; a first-round stoppage of Adrian Yanez, decision losses to Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo, and most recently, a unanimous decision win over Kyler Phillips in October.

Dominick Cruz vs. Rob Font odds

According to DraftKings, former bantamweight champion Cruz has opened up as a slight +160 underdog against fellow veteran Font, who’s listed as a -192 favorite.

How to watch Dominick Cruz vs. Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 252

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025
  • Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
  • Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

MMA Junkie Radio #3534: Guest UFC champ Belal Muhammad and Reinier de Ridder, Conor at it again, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Thursday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,534, the dudes welcomed in guest UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] and former ONE two-division champion [autotag]Reinier de Ridder[/autotag], now 2-0 as a UFC middleweight.  They also dived into the latest MMA news, including more Conor McGregor off-the-rails stuff and much more. Tune in!

Rob Font expects vintage Dominick Cruz – like WEC era – in UFC retirement fight

Rob Font has been around the block a few times. He won’t likely be surprised when he fights Dominick Cruz.

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] has been around the block a few times over 15 years in the MMA game.

As such, he’s run into all manner of opponents in his career: Fighters on their way up, fighters still trying to find their footing and even ones who presume to be on their way out. Next month, he has a meeting with one who has said he’ll done for sure afterward: [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag].

Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) and Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will meet Feb. 22 in the UFC Fight Night 252 co-main event at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Cruz, 39, has said it will be his UFC retirement fight after two years on the sidelines.

But Font isn’t expecting a lesser version of the former UFC and WEC bantamweight champion. In fact, he’s willing to throw his expectations of Cruz’s fight shape back more than a dozen years.

“I’m not banking on his age to get me through this fight,” Font recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m expecting the WEC Cruz to come out there trying to take my head off. I do believe this is going to be one of the toughest fights I’ve been in for a while.”

Font said he trained with Cruz for a couple sessions in 2024 while in Las Vegas for teammate Calvin Kattar’s fight at UFC 300. Mutual coaching friends hooked it up before a Font-Cruz matchup was a reality. As such, Font said it wasn’t a potential booking that was on his radar.

But what Cruz was able to show him in a brief amount of time, though, had Font’s wheels turning about what he might be able to bring to the table if given longer opportunities.

“He’s a smart dude. I’ve trained with him before, and I can tell you he’s smart,” Font said. “He was ahead of the game, most of the time, with his style. He’s always studying the game. He’s watching fights every weekend. He’s studying for his job and all that. So it’s not like I’m fighting some dude that’s stuck in 2009. He’s up to date with everything. This is going to be one of those types of fights that I’ve got to mature up and level up everywhere just to make sure I get this ‘W.’

“I would love to get in there, get my hand raised, have a beer with him, wait a couple of weeks and then go back to training with him. … I have nothing but respect for him.”

Check out Font’s full interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.

MMA Junkie Radio #3533: UFC 311 fallout, Pereira-Ankalaev news, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Monday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,533, the boys looked back at UFC 311 and discussed the fallout from the year’s first big event, including the title wins for Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili. They also dived into the latest MMA news and much more. Tune in!

MMA Junkie Radio #3532: Guest Rob Font, UFC 311 preview, Holly Holm, Patricio ‘Pitbull’

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”

Thursday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,532, the fellas bring on guest UFC bantamweight [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]. They also looked ahead to UFC 311 and discussed the latest news, including Patricio Freire’s Bellator release, Holly Holm’s UFC release and much more. Tune in!

Rob Font relieved by Kyler Phillips win at UFC Fight Night 245 after camp switch: ‘I put a lot of pressure on me’

Rob Font discusses his camp switch to Tristar following his decision win over Kyler Phillips at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] had his back against the wall entering UFC Fight Night 245, but the recent changes he’s made in his MMA career helped him get out of that situation.

Font (21-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC), 37, was coming off two consecutive losses and was 1-4 in his past five outings prior to Saturday’s co-main event bout at the UFC Apex. Defeating young, rising contender [autotag]Kyler Phillips[/autotag] was a must, and that he did. Font’s unanimous decision win over Phillips (12-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) came at a much-needed time, and also a time of change.

“Yeah, losing two in a row, a new camp, you obviously hope you made the right decisions,” Font told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 245 post-fight press conference. “I put a lot of pressure on me. I want to win. I want to win, and I want to get as many wins as possible, and I want to look good doing it. I was to represent my family the right way. So yeah, there was a lot of pressure, but this is what we do, and this is what we want. We want those moments, and I’m not afraid of that.”

This was Font’s first fight under seasoned coach Firas Zahabi at Tristar, most notably the home of MMA legend Georges St-Pierre. Font believes the switch to Tristar was key to his career and will continue to train there for the foreseeable future.

“It was a whole new camp and a whole new scenario,” Font said. “I was in Montreal basically all summer. I trained with all the guys out there. Firas has been a huge help in my career, and they took me in, and they opened up the red carpet for me, and I just want to give a shout-out back to everybody in Montreal.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.