Rob Font Edges Out Jean Matsumoto in UFC Seattle Thriller
Rob Font defeated Jean Matsumoto by split decision in their 140-pound catchweight bout in Seattle on February 22, 2025. The judges scored it 29–28 for Font, 28–29 for Matsumoto and 29–28 for Font. The official scorecards confirm the result, while the event recap describes how the striking and grappling exchanges shaped the close fight.
A close split decision at catchweight
The matchup was made at 140 pounds after Font’s scheduled opponent, Dominick Cruz, withdrew through injury. Matsumoto stepped in for the opportunity, and the contest was held five pounds above the bantamweight limit. Before Seattle, the Brazilian was unbeaten as a professional at 16–0; Font entered as the more experienced veteran and had just beaten Kyler Phillips by unanimous decision in October 2024. The official event update documents the late opponent change and the catchweight.
Font’s boxing gave him the cleaner work at range. He used his jab and right hand to land more often, while Matsumoto countered with heavier shots and looked to move the contest into grappling exchanges. Matsumoto scored takedowns in the second round and briefly controlled Font, but the official recap notes that he did not do enough damage from those positions to decisively change the fight.
Both men continued trading through the third round and final horn. When the judges read the totals, two favored Font and one favored Matsumoto. That split reflects the mixed shape of the fight: Font’s steady volume on the feet against Matsumoto’s stronger moments in the grappling. The outcome gave Font two consecutive victories and handed Matsumoto his first professional loss. The split decision reflects the back-and-forth contest the judges watched over three rounds.
The video above is Punch Plan’s recap of the contest, not a full fight recording. The official event report and scorecards remain the authoritative sources for the method and scores. They also establish that this was a catchweight bout and preserve the precise 29–28, 28–29, 29–28 split.
Later results changed the outlook
The Seattle victory was followed by two losses for Font. David Martinez defeated him by unanimous decision at the Noche event on September 13, 2025, then Raul Rosas Jr. won a unanimous decision over Font on the March 7, 2026 card. All three judges scored the Rosas bout 30–27. The Noche event scorecards and March 2026 scorecards document the outcomes that followed the Seattle fight.
On June 27, 2026, Matsumoto returned to the win column with a unanimous decision over Bekzat Almakhan in Baku, earning 29–28 scores on all three cards. The official event coverage records that result. The Seattle meeting remains their first professional bout against one another.
