Prizefighting in the modern era has been transformed by social media’s role in catalysing a fighter to the top. The days of the best fighting the best based on ability alone are over. Bearing the brunt of this transformation is dark horse Jonathan “Dragon” Martinez who lets his hands do the talking. The term rising star is often associated with him, but that implies recency and Martinez is no newcomer.
Signed by the UFC in 2018 Jonathan finally gets his due credit for the work he’s put in. An imposing record of 19-4-0 (9KO – 2SUB – 8DEC) accompanies a six-fight win-streak which includes the domination of Adrian Yanez and Said Nurmagomedov. Martinez broke through to the top currently sitting as the 8# ranked UFC Bantamweight. The UFC granted him the chance to shine with his pay-per-view co-main spot at UFC 301 in Rio De Janeiro. Undeniably the highlight of Jonathan Martinez’s career, but it will be no walk in the park.
Jonathan Martinez Behind Enemy Lines
Brazil has been a factory of MMA royalty since the sport’s emergence in the early 90’s. From: Anderson Silva, Shogun Rua, Fabricio Werdum and Raphael Dos Anjos. To the more recent reigns of Charles Oliveira, Alex Pereira and Alexandre Pantoja to name a few. UFC gold always finds its way back to Brazil. Arguably the most influential however is Hall of Famer Jose Aldo “Junior”. He looks to turn back the clocks against the hungry Martinez in his return from retirement at UFC 301.
Jose Aldo burst into the UFC with an 11-fight win streak, extending it to 18 wins on the bounce earning his spot in the GOAT debate. Aldo is renowned for his fast twitch finishing ability with 17 of his 31 wins coming by KO/TKO. His style not only influenced Brazilian MMA but put leg kicking on the MMA map. His heavy forward pressure made him a fan favorite with many fans wondering how he could be beaten.
Sadly for Aldo, an equally dominant force in Conor McGregor arrived and thus ended the Aldo era. Following the McGregor loss Aldo failed to regain his title against interim champ Max Holloway leaving some speculating over his future. After a fluctuating win and loss streak “Junior” moved down to Bantamweight in the hope of finding consistency. Unsuccessful in his first two fights at 135lbs Jose went on to string together a 3-fight win streak against Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font. Coming up short against Merab Dwalishwili was the final straw for Aldo after a good run of form. Uncertain if he could return to winning ways Jose Aldo hung up his gloves. Whether he missed the thrill of competition or simply wanted to fight in his hometown of Rio, Jose Aldo is back.
A high-risk reward return for Aldo in his hometown against a dangerous striker how will he fare against the young prospect
Jonathan “Dragon” Martinez’s Route to Victory
The words underrated and Jonathan Martinez are synonymous. He trains out of Factory X Muay Thai in Colorado under the guidance of head coach Marc Montoya. His striking-centred approach is reflected in his teammates, training with the likes of; Brandon Royval, Chris Gutierrez and Yousef Zalal. Having been in the UFC for so long, brushing aside countless veterans and rising prospects along the way his time has finally come. Not only is he facing off against a dangerous master of the sport but he walks into enemy territory. It is well documented that the Brazilian crowd don’t take kindly to outsiders. His toughest fight on the biggest stage in hostile territory does the 30-year-old have the composure to deliver?
The Numbers
Jonathan Martinez (5″8) and Jose Aldo (5″7) are evenly matched on paper. With just a one-inch height advantage for Martinez and a near-identical reach, their similarities make this fight unmissable. With their statures alike the greatest physical advantage lies with Martinez in his youth. Being 7 years older and with 16 more professional fights, time may have taken its irreversible toll on the King of Rio. A notable statistic for Martinez is his striking accuracy. Since his last defeat to Davey Grant in 2021 his striking accuracy has increased from the 20-30% mark to well up in the 60% threshold. This highlights how he’s adapted to become a more measured striker.
This quality-over-quantity approach has paid off, particularly with the inclusion of leg kicks into his game. Stopping both Adrian Yanez and Cub Swanson by sheer leg-focused assault speaks to the evolution of his game. With just 5 takedowns landed in his UFC tenure it’s not a secret that Jonathan Martinez likes to keep the fight on the feet.
The Way of the “Dragon”
Martinez’s game consists of a tight high guard with constant forward pressure from south-paw with his kicks leading the dance. Defensively Martinez relies on his movement and high double forearm guard with limited head movement. His weapons of choice are the inside leg kick, front kick, rear body kick and rear knees. The speed at which he can snap his rear leg to the calf, body or head is delusive and thus why he has so much success. Opponents spend the majority of the fight solely trying to decipher whether they must check, catch or block an impending roundhouse.
The front kick of Martinez is metronomic, ensuring his opponent is within touching distance but out of the pocket. Jonathan’s illusive distribution of leg strikes means that when he lets his hands go, it is impactful. Often accompanying his rear body kick is a looping left hook intent on finding the unguarded chin of his opponent as they reach down to block. For the most part despite the occasional jab, Jonathan Martinez’s forte is his kicks. One of the most effective strikes he has added to his game is the rear knee. Reeling his opponent in with a jab or front kick, backing off initiating his opponents chase, then walking them onto a piercing knee to the liver.
Leg Kick Extraveganza?
Former leg kick enthusiast Aldo has refrained from throwing his signature kicks as his career unfolded. This opens an interesting narrative that Jonathan will likely explore as Aldo has openly spoken about the damage his legs have sustained through his career. In his Bantamweight tenure especially Jose Aldo was predominantly a counterpuncher relying on his fast-twitch combos and reflexes. For Martinez, the key is to maintain the kicking range and engage cautiously. After establishing his kicks and drawing reads from Aldo as a result of the accumulative damage we may see him get in close and put his hands on the veteran. But if Martinez rushes into the pocket, albeit unlikely, the fast hands of Jose Aldo will cause problems.
Will Jonathan Martinez dethrone the King of Rio, in Rio, at UFC 301?
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
