David Martinez’s path into the UFC was one of the most unique, having once won three fights in one night during a brutal tournament.
This coming Saturday at UFC Mexico City, 26-year-old prospect David Martinez debuts in the promotion after earning a contract following an impressive win on Dana White’s Contender Series.
The 11-1 pro takes on Saimon Oliveira, who, since joining the promotion in 2022, has yet to pick up a win, disappointingly going 0-2.
Before UFC boss Dana White gave him his shot on DWCS, ‘The Black Spartan’ completed an actual Spartan-like gauntlet, fighting three times in one night.
David Martinez once won three fights in one night to earn UFC opportunity
In 2021, Martinez fought in Combate Global’s bantamweight tournament, meaning he had to fight three times in one brutal night.
The tournament included eight 135lb hopefuls, one being former UFC veteran Francisco Rivera Jr, who Martinez met in the final.
In his first fight of the night, the 26-year-old knocked Alex Gonzalez unconscious after just two minutes of the first round. Martinez then won a unanimous decision against Alan Cantu Garcia before meeting Rivera Jr in the final, knocking him out in 17 seconds of round two.
“Fighting three times in one night is really difficult. To do that was really incredible,” Martinez told MMA Knockout.
“It was one of the best nights of my life,” Martinez continued.
Although one-night tournaments are extremely rare in MMA, it wasn’t a completely new experience for Martinez, who had competed in similar kickboxing and karate tournaments before.
Martinez comes into his UFC debut off the back of seven impressive performances, five of which came by stoppage.
Other exciting prospects competing on the UFC Mexico event
With this Saturday being Martinez’s debut fight in the promotion, he isn’t the only exciting prospect competing in Mexico City.
‘El Loco’, Manuel Torres, competes in the biggest fight of his UFC career thus far when he takes on Drew Dober in the co-main event.
Also on the card is one of the most exciting and eccentric flyweight fighters in the promotion, Ronaldo Rodriguez, who takes on Kevin Borjas in a guaranteed banger.
Raul Rosas Jr once again returns to action, taking on Vince Morales, looking to score his fourth UFC win in a row.