After his fight with David Zawada was scrapped, [autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag] is happy to receive a new matchup.
Martin (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) was scheduled to face Zawada at UFC on ESPN+ 30 this past Saturday, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
With the current circumstances and travel ban restrictions, it will be tough for Germany’s Zawada to leave the country, making it likely for Martin to draw a new opponent if he competes on any of the upcoming U.S-based cards.
It could be an ideal situation for Martin, who said he wasn’t happy with the Zawada matchup in the first place.
“Right now, I’m just told (to) stay ready, and I’ve told them even if there’s fallouts on (May 9) for 170, I’m ready to go,” Martin told MMA Junkie. “I’ve been training. I haven’t left the gym. So really, there’s nothing else for me to do. So I’m just staying ready and I’m hoping for a big fight. No disrespect for David, but honestly I think that I deserved a bigger fight, a tougher fight, and I think that ideally, I fall into a bigger fight now.”
Since moving up to 170 pounds, Martin has gone 5-1. His lone loss came to two-time UFC title challenger Demian Maia. He is coming off a unanimous decision win over Ramazan Emeev, a win he expected to propel him one step closer to being ranked.
“I think that I belong in the top 15,” Martin said. “I think I had probably one of my worst fights against Demian, and I still feel like I was in the fight. And then I go out to Russia and fight Ramazan, (who) I don’t think anyone was wanting to run all the way out to Russia and fight him, and he’s extremely tough – and to go in there and win as dominant as I felt like I won there was big.
“I didn’t know for sure if it would be like a top 15 fight again, but I thought it would be someone – Niko Price I thought was a good matchup. We’re kind of in the same area, but I just didn’t get him. They came up with David Zawada. I didn’t really know who he was, so I’m not trying to trash on him. He is a tough fighter, but I don’t think he’s on my level. I also don’t think he’s where I’m at right now.”
With the next three shows booked in Jacksonville, Fla., and the promotion’s intentions of hosting shows at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas in the near future, Martin is eager to compete as soon as possible.