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UFC bantamweight Rob Font is edging closer to an octagon return.

Font (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC), who’s been sidelined with a knee injury since the beginning of 2020, is hoping to squeeze one fight in before the end of the year. He’s been rehabbing at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas and helping his good friend and teammate, Calvin Kattar, prepare for his past couple of fights.

“I’m looking at fighting in November honestly,” Font told MMA Junkie. “I’m good to go. I’m like at least 90 percent right now. I’m just waiting for the green light from Heather and the surgeon and obviously a matchup from Sean Shelby, but I should be in there November, December the latest, so I’m excited.”

He continued, “The division’s moving. The division’s on fire. We had the belt, we had a lot of fights go down in the division, so I’m excited to see who I get matched up with.”

Font hasn’t competed since last December, when he defeated Ricky Simon in a “Fight of the Night” effort at UFC on ESPN 7. He’s won three of his past four and is aiming for a top-ranked bantamweight upon his return.

“Jimmie Rivera would be a great fight,” Font said. “I would love to see how that Pedro Munhoz, Frankie Edgar (fight) plays out. Cory Sandhagen’s out there. There’s a lot of fights. There’s so many, and I’m pretty sure it’ll be more by the time I get back, so we’ll see. But anybody really. I’m just excited to get back in there and mix it up with some of these guys.”