Melissa Martinez
Super Melly
Mexico
Headed for Nashville
Martinez will take on Fatima Kline in a strawweight matchup at UFC Nashville on July 12, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Both fighters are coming off their first UFC wins here -- Martinez over Alice Ardelean in October and Kline over Viktoriia Dudakova in January. Martinez will enter at a disadvantage in both height and reach, though she does appear to have an advantage in terms of volume striking, albeit over a small sample size.
Both fighters are coming off their first UFC wins here -- Martinez over Alice Ardelean in October and Kline over Viktoriia Dudakova in January. Martinez will enter at a disadvantage in both height and reach, though she does appear to have an advantage in terms of volume striking, albeit over a small sample size.
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Secures first UFC victory
Martinez defeated Alice Ardelean via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Impressive at times, Martinez did enough to win against a lower-level opponent. She definitely landed the harder shots, but her output was concerning. Melissa attempted just 151 total strikes compared to 240 from Ardelean. It didn't cost her on this evening, but getting outworked that badly by your opponent is a recipe for future disaster. Martinez now has this win over Ardelean and a unanimous decision defeat to Elise Reed on her UFC ledger.
Impressive at times, Martinez did enough to win against a lower-level opponent. She definitely landed the harder shots, but her output was concerning. Melissa attempted just 151 total strikes compared to 240 from Ardelean. It didn't cost her on this evening, but getting outworked that badly by your opponent is a recipe for future disaster. Martinez now has this win over Ardelean and a unanimous decision defeat to Elise Reed on her UFC ledger.
Scheduled against Ardelean
Martinez (undisclosed) is scheduled to compete against Alice Ardelean in a strawweight fight at UFC Vegas 99 on Oct. 19, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
This is Martinez's first fight scheduled since 2023, going more than a year since her last bout was re-booked. She has only fought once in the UFC, a loss to Elisa Reed in 2022. Fortunately for Martinez, Ardelean is also looking for her first win in the promotion and is not an established threat.
This is Martinez's first fight scheduled since 2023, going more than a year since her last bout was re-booked. She has only fought once in the UFC, a loss to Elisa Reed in 2022. Fortunately for Martinez, Ardelean is also looking for her first win in the promotion and is not an established threat.
Bows out of fight
Martinez has withdrew from her fight against Iasmin Lucindo at UFC Vegas 71 on April 22, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
The reasoning for Martinez's withdrawal is unknown but the UFC was quick to act as they paired Lucindo up against Brogan Walker as a replacement for Martinez. The 25-year-old dropped her UFC debut back in September and will hope to fight again later in the year in search of her first win in the promotion.
The reasoning for Martinez's withdrawal is unknown but the UFC was quick to act as they paired Lucindo up against Brogan Walker as a replacement for Martinez. The 25-year-old dropped her UFC debut back in September and will hope to fight again later in the year in search of her first win in the promotion.
Falls as favorite in UFC debut
Martinez lost to Elise Reed via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC 279 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was an underwhelming performance from Martinez in her UFC debut as a -175 favorite. She was knocked down by Reed in the opening frame before getting back on track in Round 2. Martinez was the much more fluid striker and better athlete of the two, but she made some positional mistakes in Round 3, and that's all it takes in a close fight. The good news is that Melissa turned just 25 years of age this past August, and time is firmly on her side. Martinez is a quality prospect with UFC-caliber skills, but this fight showed she has plenty to work on moving forward.
It was an underwhelming performance from Martinez in her UFC debut as a -175 favorite. She was knocked down by Reed in the opening frame before getting back on track in Round 2. Martinez was the much more fluid striker and better athlete of the two, but she made some positional mistakes in Round 3, and that's all it takes in a close fight. The good news is that Melissa turned just 25 years of age this past August, and time is firmly on her side. Martinez is a quality prospect with UFC-caliber skills, but this fight showed she has plenty to work on moving forward.
New opponent for debut
Martinez is now scheduled to make her UFC debut at flyweight against Elise Reed at UFC 279 on Sept. 10 in Salt Lake City, Alex Behunin of Cageside Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Originally scheduled to face Hannah Cifers on the same card, Martinez now gets a replacement opponent for her official company debut. She'll be taking on an active opponent in Reed who is 1-2 with the company since debuting in July of 2021. Martinez will be giving up an inch in height but sport a one-inch reach advantage. She'll be returning from a layoff of nearly three years, as she was previously a Combate Americas Champion. Of her seven professional victories, five of which have came by way of stoppage.
Originally scheduled to face Hannah Cifers on the same card, Martinez now gets a replacement opponent for her official company debut. She'll be taking on an active opponent in Reed who is 1-2 with the company since debuting in July of 2021. Martinez will be giving up an inch in height but sport a one-inch reach advantage. She'll be returning from a layoff of nearly three years, as she was previously a Combate Americas Champion. Of her seven professional victories, five of which have came by way of stoppage.