Jean Matsumoto calls for Rob Font rematch. Brazilian bantamweight Jean Matsumoto has made it clear that one of his big goals in the UFC is to get a rematch with Rob Font.
Matsumoto, is coming off a split decision win over Miles Johns and is now preparing to take on Farid Basharat at UFC Vegas 113. A win against Basharat who is undefeated could put him in strong position in the bantamweight rankings.
Despite losing a close split decision to Rob Font in February 2025, Matsumoto hasn’t forgotten that fight. He believes a second meeting with the veteran would help him close the chapter on that loss and determine who is truly superior.
“He was the only guy who managed to defeat me inside the Octagon, so as long as he’s in the top 15, that’s a fight I want,” Matsumoto said in a recent interview back in the win column following a split decision win over Miles Johns, Matsumoto re-enters the cage Saturday to take on Farid Basharat at UFC Vegas 113 and is looking for a win good enough to convince UFC matchmakers to give him another opportunity.
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“Rob Font already has a fight booked but I’ll always insist on this,” Matsumoto told MMA Fighting. “He was the only guy who managed to defeat me inside the octagon, so as long as he’s in the top 15, that’s a fight I want. If he drops out of the top 15, I’m not that interested, but while he’s there, I’ll keep pushing to fight him. He’s set to fight Raul Rosas now, they re-booked it. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but if it doesn’t, or if he wins and stays in the top 15, I’d like to fight him.”
“It was an important year for me,” Matsumoto said. “Unfortunately I had my first loss came on paper, but I realized that I’m at the level to be on the top shelf, to break into the top 15 and even the top 10. That was something I had a lot of doubts about before because I hadn’t faced anyone from there yet. So for me it was really positive, even coming out with a loss. I learned a lot.”
“My last fight I ended up holding back a little bit, maybe because of the fear of losing my contract or something like that,” he continued.
“It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it is what it is. And thank God I came out with the win. That’s what matters. I learned that in the Rob Font fight. I thought I won but that doesn’t really matter much, so what matters is leaving with your hand raised.”
Even though the loss to Font is the only blip on his record, Matsumoto said it was a learning experience that showed him he can compete with top-level bantamweights, and he remains confident in his long-term potential. “It was a positive year for me … I learned a lot,” he said.
Now, with a win under his belt and renewed confidence, Matsumoto is focused on putting on a standout performance at UFC Vegas 113, not just to earn another victory, but also to strengthen his case for the showdown he’s been calling for ever since that close split decision loss to Rob Font.
