Jonathan Martinez

Last updated
Jonathan Martinez
Jonathan Martinez at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia.jpg
Jonathan Martinez at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia in February 2019
Born (1994-04-20) April 20, 1994 (age 30)
Los Angeles, California, United States [1]
NicknameThe Dragon
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Division Flyweight (2014–2015)
Bantamweight (2014–present)
Featherweight (2020, 2022)
Reach70 in (178 cm) [1]
Fighting out of Plainview, Texas, United States
TeamAcademy of Mixed Martial Arts (formerly) [2]
Different Breed MMA (formerly) [3]
Factory X (2018–present) [4]
MTZ Fight Club (2023–present) [2]
RankBlue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [1]
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins19
By knockout9
By submission2
By decision8
Losses4
By knockout1
By decision2
By disqualification1
Website jonathanmartinez.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Jonathan Martinez (born April 20, 1994) is an American professional mixed martial artist. Martinez currently competes in the bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of April 16, 2024, he is #13 in the UFC bantamweight rankings. [5]

Contents

Background

Martinez from a Salvadorian mother and Mexican father was born and grew up in California and moved with his family to Plainview, Texas, at the age of 13. [3] At the age of 14, his father took him to Taekwondo class to learn discipline, which eventually led to mixed martial arts training. [6]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Martinez started his professional MMA career since 2014. He amassed a record of 9–1 prior to being signed by UFC. [7]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Martinez made his UFC debut on October 27, 2018 on UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith, replacing an injured Gavin Tucker against Andre Soukhamthath. [8] After getting knocked down multiple times, Martinez lost the fight via unanimous decision. [9]

Martinez's next fight came on February 9, 2019 at UFC 234 against Wuliji Buren. [10] Martinez won the fight via unanimous decision. [11]

Martinez faced Liu Pingyuan on July 13, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd. [12] He won the fight via knockout in round three. [13] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [14]

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Martinez faced Andre Ewell on February 8, 2020 at UFC 247. [15] [16] He lost the fight via split decision. [17] Right after the bout, Martinez signed a new contract with the promotion. [18]

Martinez faced Frankie Saenz on August 1, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. [19] At the weigh-ins, Martinez weighed in at 140.5 pounds, four and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 30 percent of his purse, which went to Saenz. [20] After knocking Saenz down multiple times, Martinez won the fight via TKO in the third round. [21]

Martinez faced Thomas Almeida on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 180. [22] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [23]

Martinez faced Davey Grant on March 13, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 187. [24] Despite knocking Grant down in the first round, Martinez ultimately lost the fight via knockout in round two. [25]

Martinez was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. [26] However, Wood was removed from the bout in mid-August for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Marcelo Rojo. [27] At the weigh-ins, Martinez weighed in at 138 pounds, two pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout was scrapped after Martinez withdrew due to complications from the weight cut. [28]

Martinez was scheduled to face Aaron Phillips, replacing Kris Moutinho on October 23, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 196. [29] However, Philips withdrew from the bout due to illness [30] and was replaced by Zviad Lazishvili. [31] Martinez won the fight via unanimous decision. [32]

Martinez faced Alejandro Pérez on February 26, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 202. [33] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [34]

Martinez faced Vince Morales on May 21, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 206. [35] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [36]

Martinez faced Cub Swanson on October 15, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 212. [37] He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. [38] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [39]

Martinez faced Said Nurmagomedov on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221. He won the fight via unanimous decision. [40] 13 out of 17 media outlets scored the bout as a victory for Nurmagomedov. [41]

Martinez faced Adrian Yanez on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. [42] He won the fight via TKO in round two. [43] [44] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [45]

Martinez is scheduled to face José Aldo on May 4, 2024, at UFC 301. [46]

Personal life

Jonathan and his wife Amber have a son and a daughter. [3]

Championships and awards

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches19 wins4 losses
By knockout91
By submission20
By decision82
By disqualification01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win19–4 Adrian Yanez TKO (leg kick) UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza October 14, 202322:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win18–4 Said Nurmagomedov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili March 11, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win17–4 Cub Swanson TKO (leg kick) UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araújo October 15, 202224:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win16–4 Vince Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira May 21, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win15–4 Alejandro Pérez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green February 26, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFeatherweight bout.
Win14–4Zviad LazishviliDecision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori October 23, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss13–4 Davey Grant KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad March 13, 202123:03 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win13–3 Thomas Almeida Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie October 18, 202035:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesFeatherweight bout.
Win12–3 Frankie Saenz TKO (knee and punches) UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan August 1, 202030:57 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesCatchweight (140.5 lb) bout; Martinez missed weight.
Loss11–3 Andre Ewell Decision (split) UFC 247 February 8, 202035:00 Houston, Texas, United States
Win11–2 Liu Pingyuan KO (knee) UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd July 13, 201933:53 Sacramento, California, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win10–2 Wuliji Buren Decision (unanimous) UFC 234 February 9, 201935:00 Melbourne, Australia
Loss9–2 Andre Soukhamthath Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith October 27, 201835:00 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Win9–1Randy HindsSubmission (armbar)Fist Fight Night 2September 30, 201710:56 Amarillo, Texas, United StatesReturn to Bantamweight.
Win8–1Jesse CruzSubmission (armbar)Combate Americas: Road to the Championship 3April 18, 201612:17 Los Angeles, California, United StatesCatchweight (130 lb) bout.
Loss7–1 Matt Schnell DQ (illegal knee)Legacy FC 49December 4, 201522:21 Bossier City, Louisiana, United StatesFlyweight bout.
Win7–0Ryan HollisDecision (unanimous)GCS 3: Hub City HavocApril 25, 201535:00 Lubbock, Texas, United StatesCatchweight (130 lb) bout.
Win6–0 C.J. Vergara Decision (split)Fury Fighting 3January 24, 201535:00 San Antonio, Texas, United StatesFlyweight bout.
Win5–0Xavier SillerTKO (punches)XFL: Rage on the River 5November 15, 201421:03 Grant, Oklahoma, United StatesWon the XFL Bantamweight Championship.
Win4–0Adrian HudsonTKO (punches)XFL: Rage on the River 4July 27, 201451:01 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win3–0Micah StocktonTKO (punches)XFL: Rage on the River 3April 18, 201430:44 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United StatesWon the XFL Flyweight Championship.
Win2–0Marshon BallKO (flying knee)Rumble Time Promotions: DestructionMarch 14, 201411:23 St. Charles, Missouri, United States
Win1–0Archie LoweKO (flying knee)C3 Fights: Border Wars 2014February 8, 201422:21 Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States

[47]

See also

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References

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