UFC 301 co-headliner Jonathan Martinez began his career at flyweight but is currently ranked in the bantamweight division at No. 13. He has also fought at featherweight several times inside the Octagon.
Known as ‘The Dragon’, Martinez is scheduled to fight Featherweight GOAT Jose Aldo in the co-main event of UFC 301 this coming 4 May 2024, at the Farmassi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The bout will be fought at bantamweight, which has an upper weight limit of 135 pounds.
As stated earlier, Martinez began his career at flyweight where the upper weight limit is 125 pounds. In his fifth pro-MMA bout, Martinez moved up to the 135-pound bantamweight division to challenge for the XFL’s 135-pound belt. He continued to fight at bantamweight upon his move to the UFC.
However, during his bout against Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night 173 on 1 August 2020, Martinez missed the non-tile upper weight limit by a hefty 4.5 pounds as he tipped the scales at 140.5 pounds. Martinez was fined 30% of his purse but the fight proceeded as a catchweight bout. Jonathan won by TKO.
In his next fight, Martinez fought in the 145-pound featherweight division and defeated Thomas Almeida via unanimous decision. He returned to bantamweight for a pair of bouts and then moved up to featherweight again to fight Alejandro Perez. Since then, he has exclusively fought at bantamweight and has not lost a fight since March 2021 when he lost on points to Davey Grant.
The Dragon hit the scales at the non-title limit of 136 pounds when he fought Arian Yanez the last time out. Against the living legend, Martinez will have to be in his best shape ever if he wants to put on a show at UFC 301.