Ryan Martinez

Last updated
Ryan Martinez
Born (1982-08-09) August 9, 1982 (age 39)
Greeley, Colorado, United States
Nationality American
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight257 lb (117 kg; 18.4 st)
Division Super Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Reach72 in (183 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Fighting out of Greeley, Colorado, United States
TeamInfinite MMA
Years active2009-2014
Mixed martial arts record
Total15
Wins10
By knockout5
By submission2
By decision3
Losses5
By knockout4
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ryan Martinez (born August 27, 1987) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2009 until 2014, he competed for Bellator and ProElite.

Contents

Background

Martinez was born in Greeley, Colorado. He grew up wrestling and had a promising future, being a top ranked wrestler in the state of Colorado (third in the country as a senior) while at Greeley West High School, and a two-time All-American. The young Martinez was offered full-scholarships from many different colleges, but began getting involved with drugs and alcohol, and eventually dropped out of high school as he began dealing drugs.[ citation needed ]

Martinez was addicted to methamphetamines and was arrested once for drug trafficking. He spent three and a half years in prison and two years on parole. The time in prison was especially hard on Martinez because he missed the first two years of his daughter Taylor's life.

After his time in prison, he got a job as an ironworker and started to train MMA, which helped him to overcome his past. [1]

MMA career

Early career

After a successful amateur career, Martinez began as a professional in 2010. He fought mainly for the Colorado-based promotion Fight To Win. With a MMA record of 5–1, he signed with ProElite.

ProElite

Martinez made his debut against former NCAA division I national wrestling champion Mark Ellis on November 5, 2011, in the opening round of the heavyweight tournament. He won via unanimous decision and advanced to the semifinal. [2]

In the semifinal on January 21, 2012, Martinez faced Cody Griffin. He won via unanimous decision. [3]

Martinez was expected to face Richard Odoms in the finals, [3] but in early 2012 ProElite has entered into a partnership with DREAM, [4] which has gone out of business soon after. [5] Martinez then signed with Bellator. [6]

Bellator Fighting Championships

Martinez made his debut against Mike Wessel on August 24, 2012, at Bellator 73. He lost via split decision (29-28 Wessel, 30-27 Martinez, 29-28 Wessel). [7] [8]

Martinez faced Manny Lara on October 5, 2012, at Bellator 75. He won via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28). [9]

Martinez faced Travis Wiuff on March 21, 2013, at Bellator 93. He won via knockout in the very first round. [10]

In June 2013, Martinez entered the Bellator Summer Series Heavyweight tournament as an injury replacement for Vinicius Queiroz. [11] He faced Rich Hale in the opening round at Bellator 96 and won via knockout in the first round.

Martinez faced Vitaly Minakov in the finals on July 31, 2013, at Bellator 97. He lost via TKO in the third round. [12]

Martinez then fought Lavar Johnson in the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season Ten Heavyweight tournament at Bellator 111. He lost via TKO in the first round. [13]

Martinez faced Nick Rossborough on September 26, 2014, at Bellator 126. [14] He lost the fight via TKO due to injury after tearing his left bicep in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
15 matches10 wins5 losses
By knockout54
By submission20
By decision31
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss10–5Nick RossboroughTKO (arm injury) Bellator 126 September 26, 201415:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United StatesMartinez tore his left bicep in round one.
Loss10–4 Lavar Johnson TKO (punches) Bellator 111 March 7, 201414:22 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United StatesBellator Season 10 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss10–3 Vitaly Minakov TKO (punches) Bellator 97 July 31, 201334:02 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United StatesBellator 2013 Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Final.
Win10–2 Rich Hale KO (punches) Bellator 96 June 19, 201312:19 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United StatesBellator 2013 Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win9–2 Travis Wiuff KO (punches) Bellator 93 March 21, 201310:18 Lewiston, Maine, United States
Win8–2Manny LaraDecision (majority) Bellator 75 October 5, 201235:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Loss7–2 Mike Wessel Decision (split) Bellator 73 August 24, 201235:00 Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, United States
Win7–1Cody GriffinDecision (unanimous)ProElite 3: Da Spyder vs. MinowamanJanuary 21, 201235:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesProElite Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win6–1Mark EllisDecision (unanimous)ProElite 2: Big GunsNovember 5, 201135:00 Moline, Illinois, United StatesProElite Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win5–1Brandon EndrissTechnical submission (guillotine choke)ROF 41: Bragging RightsAugust 20, 201113:45 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win4–1Richard WhiteTKO (submission to punches)Fight To Win: OutlawsMay 14, 201112:24 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win3–1Jeremiah MartinezTKO (punches)Fight To Win: Mortal CombatFebruary 25, 201110:51 Denver, Colorado, United States
Loss2–1 Derrick Lewis TKO (punches)Fight to Win/King of Champions: Worlds CollideJuly 24, 201021:03 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win2–0Justyn RileyKO (punch)Fight To Win: WarApril 17, 201010:26 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win1–0Vernon LewisTKO (punches)Fight To Win: PhenomsJanuary 30, 201023:22 Denver, Colorado, United States

Mixed martial arts amateur record

Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win4–0Omar BelalKO (suplex and punches)RMBB: MMA MadnessAugust 14, 200910:54 Sheridan, Colorado, United States
Win3–0Donnie BellTKO (punches)RMBB: Battle in the Cage: Total DominationJune 5, 200910:13 Sheridan, Colorado, United States
Win2–0Emanuel MartinezTKO (punches)RMBB: Baddest of the BadApril 17, 200910:34 Sheridan, Colorado, United States
Win1–0Shawn MartinTKO (punches)RMBB: Battle of the BeltsJanuary 23, 200910:19 Sheridan, Colorado, United States

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References

  1. Bellator 93's Ryan Martinez on new path after years spent behind bars by Matt Erickson (MMAjunkie.com) on March 21, 2013
  2. ProElite 2 results: Ex-UFC champs Sylvia and Arlovski victorious by Dann Stupp (MMAjunkie.com) on November 6, 2011
  3. 1 2 ProElite 3 results: Grove, McMann victorious; Odoms-Martinez book final MMAJunkie.com (January 21, 2012)
  4. ProElite to Partner with DREAM by Rai Hui (MMAFighting.com) on January 17, 2012
  5. The Dream is gone; Japanese MMA promotion runs out of viable options by Ken Pishna (MMAweekly.com) on June 3, 2012
  6. Heavyweight Ryan Martinez joins Bellator Fighting Championships, debuts Aug. 24 at Bellator 73 by Mike Whitman (Sherdog.com) on June 8, 2012
  7. Bellator 73 results: Vegh stops Wiuff; Galvão takes Season 6 bantamweight crown by Steven Marrocco (MMAjunkie.com) on August 24, 2012
  8. The Insider W/ Ryan Martinez by Dane Ford (MMAInsider.net) on June 4, 2013
  9. Bellator 75 prelims results – Ryan Martinez earns tournament alternate slot, Beebe rolls by Jesse Denis (MMAfrenzy.com) on October 5, 2012
  10. Bellator 93 results recap for 'Jansen vs Held' last night (March 21) from Lewiston by Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com) on March 22, 2013
  11. "Queiroz off Bellator 96, Ryan Martinez meets Rich Hale in heavyweight tourney". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  12. Bellator 97 results: Chandler KOs Rickels, Askren stops Koreshkov MMAjunkie.com (July 31, 2013)
  13. "Bellator 111 results: Dantas vs. Leone". mmafighting.com. March 7, 2014.
  14. "Seven-fight preliminary card rounds out Bellator 126 in Phoenix". mmajunkie.com. September 9, 2014.