Before fans can witness the UFC 308 showdown, Dana White and company plan to fire things up with a warm-up event, UFC Vegas 99 (also called UFC Fight Night 245). Just three days away, the neon-lit oasis of Las Vegas is ready to host the action at the Apex Arena. The Octagon is set to witness intense combat, with the co-main event sparking even more debate among fans and MMA pundits.

The 29-year-old Californian, Kyler Phillips, will square off against the much more experienced Rob Font, aiming to improve his ranking. But before we make our predictions, let’s take a look at the bantamweight contenders’ stats to help gauge their chances for victory.

UFC Fight Night: Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips career stats

After winning three of his four amateur MMA fights, 37-year-old Rob Font successfully transitioned into professional MMA back in 2011, where he now holds 20 wins. However, every victory comes with a cost, the Massachusetts prospect also has eight losses on his record. Nine of his wins came by knockout, taking down some top-ranked contenders in the process, while the rest were secured by submission. Additionally, Font has earned four Performance of the Night bonuses, putting him alongside division peers like Marlon Vera and Sean O’Malley for the second-most knockouts in UFC bantamweight history.

But now, at 37, age seems to be catching up with him, as his recent record shows just one win in his last six fights. Still, you can never count out this Massachusetts native, as he may strike back at any time. On the other side, we have Kyler Phillips, who looks strong statistically. After an undefeated amateur career, ‘The Matrix’ debuted in professional MMA with the same zeal, quickly catching the UFC’s attention. Without much struggle, he earned his way into the organization, boasting an impressive record of 12 wins with only two losses.

Since joining the UFC, ‘The Matrix’ has only tasted defeat once, three years ago. Much like Font, Kyler Phillips has also earned a Performance of the Night award, knocking out Cameron Else with a brutal elbow. As both fighters look solid on paper, fans are left wondering who will derail whom. While Font brings his heavy-handed experience, Phillips’ explosive fighting style could be his ticket to outlasting his opponent. Let’s put on our speculation caps and analyze how this fight might unfold.

Font vs. Phillips breakdown and prediction

In their upcoming battle, Kyler Phillips holds the status of fan favorite, while Rob Font steps in as the underdog. However, despite being considered the underdog, the former CES MMA champion has several advantages over ‘The Matrix’. His clinch game and groundwork stand out, giving him a potential edge over his opponent. Font also boasts more first-round finishes, with nine to his name, and although both fighters are evenly matched in striking accuracy, Font surpasses Kyler Phillips in takedown accuracy.

If age is excluded from the equation, the Massachusetts native appears to have the upper hand. Still, Font has been open in admitting that Kyler Phillips is one of his toughest challenges yet. During the UFC Vegas 99 pre-fight press conference, Font stated, “He’s nonstop action. These types of guys offer more opportunities to counter, more opportunities to get finishes, and they’re not boring fights at all. I think this is a great matchup. I believe it’s Fight of the Night material. He brings it, he starts off fast, and I start off fast as well. He has a wild kicking style, and he’ll even pull guard to try and jump on submissions.”

Font further emphasized Kyler Phillips’ deep MMA roots, highlighting how, at a young age, while other kids were playing video games, ‘The Matrix’ was already honing his craft, something the California native himself has admitted. Now, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC Vegas 99. How do you see this intriguing bantamweight matchup unfolding? Can Rob Font’s wealth of experience and technical prowess prevail against the youthful explosiveness and dynamic style of Kyler Phillips? Drop your opinion below!