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 May 7, 2024, he is #14 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.[5]
| Jonathan Martinez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 20, 1994 Los Angeles, California, United States[1] |
| Nickname | The Dragon |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Flyweight (2014–2015) Bantamweight (2014–present) Featherweight (2020, 2022) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Plainview, Texas, United States |
| Team | Academy of Mixed Martial Arts (formerly)[2] Different Breed MMA (formerly)[3] Factory X (2018–present)[4] MTZ Fight Club (2023–present)[2] |
| Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1] |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 24 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Website | jonathanmartinez |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Martinez from a Salvadoran 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 Yañez 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 faced José Aldo on May 4, 2024, at UFC 301.[46] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[47]
Personal life
Jonathan and his wife Amber have a son and a daughter.[3]
Championships and awards
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Liu Pingyuan, Cub Swanson, and Adrian Yañez[14][39][45]
- Xtreme Fighting League
- XFL Flyweight Championship (one time; former)
- XFL Bantamweight Championship (one time; former)
Mixed martial arts record
| 24 matches | 19 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 8 | 3 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–5 | José Aldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 301 | May 4, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 19–4 | Adrian Yañez | TKO (leg kick) | UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza | October 14, 2023 | 2 | 2:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–4 | Said Nurmagomedov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | March 11, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Cub Swanson | TKO (leg kick) | UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araújo | October 15, 2022 | 2 | 4:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–4 | Vince Morales | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira | May 21, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | Alejandro Pérez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green | February 26, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Win | 14–4 | Zviad Lazishvili | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori | October 23, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Davey Grant | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad | March 13, 2021 | 2 | 3:03 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Thomas Almeida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie | October 18, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Featherweight bout. |
| Win | 12–3 | Frankie Saenz | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan | August 1, 2020 | 3 | 0:57 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140.5 lb) bout; Martinez missed weight. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Andre Ewell | Decision (split) | UFC 247 | February 8, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Liu Pingyuan | KO (knee) | UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd | July 13, 2019 | 3 | 3:53 | Sacramento, California, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 10–2 | Wuliji Buren | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 234 | February 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Andre Soukhamthath | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith | October 27, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | |
| Win | 9–1 | Randy Hinds | Submission (armbar) | Fist Fight Night 2 | September 30, 2017 | 1 | 0:56 | Amarillo, Texas, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 8–1 | Jesse Cruz | Submission (armbar) | Combate Americas: Road to the Championship 3 | April 18, 2016 | 1 | 2:17 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 7–1 | Matt Schnell | DQ (illegal knee) | Legacy FC 49 | December 4, 2015 | 2 | 2:21 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | Flyweight bout. |
| Win | 7–0 | Ryan Hollis | Decision (unanimous) | GCS 3: Hub City Havoc | April 25, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Lubbock, Texas, United States | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. |
| Win | 6–0 | C.J. Vergara | Decision (split) | Fury Fighting 3 | January 24, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | Flyweight bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Xavier Siller | TKO (punches) | XFL: Rage on the River 5 | November 15, 2014 | 2 | 1:03 | Grant, Oklahoma, United States | Won the XFL Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Adrian Hudson | TKO (punches) | XFL: Rage on the River 4 | July 27, 2014 | 5 | 1:01 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Micah Stockton | TKO (punches) | XFL: Rage on the River 3 | April 18, 2014 | 3 | 0:44 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | Won the XFL Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Marshon Ball | KO (flying knee) | Rumble Time Promotions: Destruction | March 14, 2014 | 1 | 1:23 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Archie Lowe | KO (flying knee) | C3 Fights: Border Wars 2014 | February 8, 2014 | 2 | 2:21 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States |