David Martinez joined his sister Melissa in the UFC. Both are doctors when they’re not fighting.
MEXICO CITY – [autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] met the media Saturday after his win over Saimon Oliveira at UFC on ESPN 64.
Martinez (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who joined his sister Melissa in the UFC, also is a doctor when he’s not fighting – also just like his sister. After he knocked out Saimon Oliveira (18-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) in the first round for a $50,000 bonus in his UFC debut, Martinez playfully responded to the advice he’d give his opponent to recover after the fight.
“The best advice I can give is the one that the doctors always give: Stay hydrated, drink water, sleep well, and if you can take Paracetamol every eight hours, it’s going to be fine,” Martinez said.
Check out Martinez’s post-fight news conference in the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
UFC Mexico fighters took home Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, with Kelvin Gastelum and Drew Dober leading the way.
MEXICO CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 64 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $168,500.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC on ESPN 64 took place at Arena CDMX in Mexico. The card aired on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC on ESPN 64 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,640; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-64 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
[autotag]Ateba Gautier[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) had a scintillating UFC debut when he drilled Jose Daniel Medina (11-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a brutal knee in the first round to announce his presence in the middleweight division.
Ateba Gautier def. Jose Daniel Medina, UFC on ESPN 64 (via UFC)
[autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) joined his sister Melissa as members of the UFC ranks – and members who each are doctors, no less – and took out Saimon Oliveira (18-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) with a first-round TKO.
David Martinez def. Saimon Oliveira, UFC on ESPN 64 (via UFC)
[autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) was fighting CJ Vergara (12-7-1 MMA, 3-5 UFC) on the prelims when the day started, but found his fight on the main card in a key spot toward the top. He took advantage with a thrilling first-round submission in front of his home fans that he said was emotional because of the death of his grandfather.
Edgar Chairez def. CJ Vergara, UFC on ESPN 64 (via UFC)
[autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) picked up the biggest win of his career when he pounded out Drew Dober (27-15 MMA, 13-11 UFC) quickly into the first round of the co-main event. Torres hit Dober with more than a dozen hammerfists, most of which appeared to be unnecessary had referee Mike Beltran stepped in to stop things sooner. After Dober stumbled to his feet, Beltran then stood in front of him to make sure he didn’t keep fighting, giving direct evidence to the official of the unnecessarily late finish.
Manuel Torres def. Drew Dober, UFC on ESPN 64 (via UFC)
UFC Mexico galleries
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, and David Martinez’s was just what the doctor ordered at UFC on ESPN 64.
They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, and [autotag]David Martinez[/autotag]’s was just what the doctor ordered at UFC on ESPN 64
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Martinez (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) turned out the lights on [autotag]Saimon Oliveira[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) in the first round of his UFC debut in front of his home Mexico fans – and in front of his sister in his corner, fellow UFC fighter Melissa Martinez. Martinez and his sister both are doctors, as well.
Martinez drilled Oliveira with a combination late in the first round of their bantamweight bout, then put the pressure on as he stumbled backward. A vicious knee up the middle sent the fight to the canvas, and there Martinez honed in with hammer fists until a couple were on the button.
Martinez was a massive 7-1 favorite in the fight – the most lopsided odds on the card at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom goes inside the David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira fight at UFC Mexico.
[autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] and [autotag]Saimon Oliveira[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 64 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 4-2 UFC main cards, 2025: 25-22-1
David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira UFC Mexico preview
Martinez (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) punched his ticket to his UFC debut through DWCS this past fall – his seventh straight win. Now he gets to make his promotional debut in front of his home fans … Oliveira (18-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is back for the first time in more than two years, and he’ll be trying to snap a two-fight skid in hostile territory.
David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira UFC Mexico expert pick, prediction
Filling out the main card is a potential bantamweight banger between [autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] and [autotag]Saimon Oliveira[/autotag].
Martinez, who moonlights as a doctor when he’s not fighting inside of the cage, made a good impression on myself and others in his Contender Series debut last year. I stated that Martinez looked ‘UFC ready’ in my post-fight column, and the UFC is matching him up accordingly.
Although Oliveira hasn’t been since for some time, he’s fairly experienced with some deceptive skills in tow. That said, the Brazilian’s defense and propensity to sell out for guillotines have cost him at this level.
I’ll side with the ring management, footwork and output of Martinez to pull away on a tiring Oliveira down the stretch.
The official pick is Martinez to force a stoppage via strikes in Round 3.
David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira UFC Mexico odds
The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the Mexican fighter, listing Martinez -430 and Oliveira +320 via FanDuel.
David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira UFC Mexico start time, how to watch
Martinez and Oliveira are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 7:45 p.m. ET. The fight airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
David Martinez has nine of his 11 wins by knockout, and getting a 10th in front of his home fans is high on his priority list.
MEXICO CITY – [autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] met the media Wednesday ahead of his fight at UFC on ESPN 64.
David Martinez (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) takes on Saimon Oliveira (18-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) on the main card at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. At the event’s media day, Martinez took questions from media members before his fight.
Martinez, from Mexico, punched his ticket to the UFC on DWCS this past fall. The ex-Combate Global bantamweight champion has nine of his 11 wins by knockout, and hopes that trend continues Saturday against Oliveira for a memorable debut.
“I’m feeling great and very happy about making my debut in the UFC, and what better scenario than to have your debut in Mexico in front of a crowd – I’m very excited about that,” Martinez told MMA Junkie. “It’s been a while since I fought here – fighting in the capital, fighting in front of everybody, in front of my friends, family – it’s perfect.”
But even with all the potential pressure of the environment and atmosphere and circumstances ready to come into play, Martinez thinks he can continue to do what he’s used to doing.
And that’s finishing fights.
“Saimon is a guy who’s fought in the organization, fought on (DWCS) as well and somebody who’s shown he’s got good striking, also – muay Thai base, and jiu-jitsu. I think this fight could go anywhere,” Martinez said. “But I’m very ready for it, and where the fight goes, I’m prepared.”
Check out Martinez’s full media day interview in the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.
The eighth week of the eighth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at light heavyweight, Kazakhstan’s Diyar Nurgozhay knocked out Bartosz Szewczyk.
The UFC Apex hosts the card, which streamed live on ESPN+.
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Who won a UFC contract?
At the conclusion of the event, White handed out UFC contracts to all five winners: Diyar Nurgozhay, Alberto Montes, David Martinez, Torrez Finney and Jacobe Smith.
[autotag]Torrez Finney[/autotag] def. [autotag]Abdellah Er-Ramy[/autotag] via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
[autotag]Jacobe Smith[/autotag] def. [autotag]Christien Savoie[/autotag] via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:55
DWCS 74 round-by-round updates
Christien Savoie vs. Jacobe Smith
Round 1 – Savoie opens with a trio of leg kicks before Smith answers with one back. Smith shoots in for a single leg and elevates Savoie above his head and slams him to the mat. He tries to establish top position but Savoie gives up his back and uses the fence to stand up. Smith is still hanging from the waist and pulls Savoie back down then lands some big punches and elbows, one of which opens a cut on the back of Savoie’s head. Savoie scrambles up then is taken back down to the mat. Smith steps over to the back and is working for a rear-naked choke but Savoie stands up. Smith won’t get go of him and scores a slick trip. Smith is overwhelming Savoie, who stands up once more before being reintroduced to the canvas. Savoie already looks out of ideas with roughly 90 seconds remaining and Smith cuts his face open with an elbow. The referee warns Savoie to defend himself and he tries to kick free but has his back taken again. Smith lets him up but then ducks in for a scoop takedown – his sixth takedown of the round. He lands some more elbows to close out the frame.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for Smith.
Round 2 – Savoie comes out with a pair of wild kicks high and to the body. Smith looks completely unintimidated and steps in with some huge punches that barely miss. Savoie is throwing back on the feet but looks concerned about the takedowns as he moves forward. Smith is more content to strike than he was in the first at this moment until Savoie nearly lands a massive knee that leads into a takedown. Smith slides into side control and starts landing some more shots. Savoie is stuck and the referee warns him to defend. Smith keeps chipping away and finally the referee has seen enough and waves it off. Smith gets the TKO and stays undefeated.
Round 1 – Finney gets a takedown with a matter of seconds and takes Er-Ramy’s back within 30 seconds. Er-Ramy flips over and Finney moves into mount. Finney latches on an arm-triangle choke and it’s deep just over one minute into the fight. Er-Ramy is squirming and gasping for air as Finney tries to finish it, but he lets it go and takes half guard position. Finney eventually takes the back again and postures up and unloads with punches to force the TKO stoppage. Finney makes history with his third career win on DWCS, then goes to Dana White and dances to the smile of the UFC CEO. Perhaps her finally gets his contract tonight.
Round 1 – Both men are staying just out of range each other in the first couple minutes of the fight. They are trying to connect with hands and feet but are failing to land clean. Franklin is being the early aggressor but Martinez catches him with a hard overhand. Franklin comes back with a stinging jab and straight right. A low blow briefly halts the action, but it goes on and Franklin is back to pressuring. Martinez is landing some good shots from the outside as he circles away from the power of his opponent. He walks into a shot that briefly staggers him but he’s right back to the game plan of sticking and moving. Franklin is landing a few good blows but Martinez shows no fear as he attacks with a flying kick late in the round.
Close opening frame, but MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez.
Round 2 – There’s intensity on the striking exchanges early going. There’s a brief eye poke stoppage as Franklin sticks Martinez, but we’re back to it. Martinez throws a plethora of leg kicks but Franklin counters one and Martinez is staggered. He quickly recovers and comes forward but is tagged again moments later. They keep striking and Franklin shoots for a pair of takedowns with just over two minute remaining. Martinez does well to defend and circles free, but he needs to do something to sway the round back in his favor. Franklin shoots for some more takedowns but Martinez is resisting with powerful leg kicks and multi-strike combinations as he moves forward. There’s some good action late in the round, but no one gets badly rocked.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Franklin, but it was another close one.
Round 3 – Martinez lands the first nice punch of the round less than 15 seconds in then fires home another leg kick to Franklin’s lead left leg. He lands another smashing one that takes the balance of Franklin, who shoots in for a desperation takedown that’s easily rejected. Martinez looks to be the more confident side at this point as he lands a jab and another kick to Franklin’s front leg. Martinez sneaks in an uppercut, followed by two leg kicks. Franklin is still moving forward but it starting to fade and show signs of damage he steps in with a knee to the body. Martinez is bleeding from the right eye but he’s still using solid movement. Martinez lands a superman punch and has the looks as if he’s got this fight won with less than two minutes left. Franklin is trying to make something big happen and swings a head kick, but his energy is running low. Martinez lands another leg kick and another jab. Martinez lands another leg kick to bring his total for the fight to above 30, then starts going high with a head kick and a wheel kick attempt. Martinez is just showing out at this point but he stumbles off a kick and Franklin tries to take him down. No luck, though, and Martinez closes out the fight switching stances and throwing.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez, and he should win a decision here as Dana White comes into the octagon and praises both fighters.
Result: David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos Records: Martinez (11-1), Franklin (5-1) Division: Bantamweight Broadcast: ESPN+ Referee: Mark Smith
Carlos Calderon vs. Alberto Montes
Round 1 – It’s an immediate collision in the center of the octagon with both men tagging the chin of the other and slipping all over the place. Calderon slows the pace down with a takedown but he can’t keep Montes down long as he scoots to the fence and works his way upright. Calderon has Montes pressed against the fence but Montes tries to snatch the neck for an anaconda choke. Calderon squirms free and ends up on top. They scramble and now Calderon is looking for a guillotine from the front headlock position. He lets is go and we get some wild scrambles in the following minute with both men getting top position. It’s now Montes in control and he sets up the D’Arce choke. It’s in deep but Calderon is shifting his body and giving his neck space. He eventually frees himself and gets back to the feet. Calderon is throwing heavy with less than 90 seconds left. Montes is obliging in exchanges and it forces Calderon to shoot for takedown that leads to another scramble. They trade to close the round.
MMA Junkie scores a wild round 10-9 for Montes, but it was real close.
Round 2 – Thing pick up right where they left off as they throw punches and kicks from right in front of each other and are landing. There seems to be comfort in what’s being thrown both ways, but Montes is doing some good work from behind his jab. Calderon is moving forward without fear and throwing but he is getting countered with the right hook over and over. Montes is taking over and he reacts to a takedown attempt with a Peruvian necktie attempt! He switches to an anaconda choke and gets the tap! Incredible grappling to close an incredible fight.
Round 1 – To the surprise of no one the strikes are coming hard and fast from both sides to start the fight. Szewczyk is working the kicks more while Nurgozhay is focusing on using his hands. Nurgozhay catches a kick from Szewczyk and lands an uppercut in the process of releasing. Szewczyk continues to use leg kicks and now Nurgozhay is timing them with step-in counters. Nurgozhay seems to be waiting for something big and he lands a pair of clean lefts in the process. Szewczyk is starting to do more with his hands but Nurgozhay looks completely composed as the round winds under 60 seconds. There’s a big exchange as we hit 30 seconds but they both come out in the clear. Szewczyk works more kicks late, but nothing is overly impactful.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Nurgozhay, but Szewczyk landed some good kicks.
Round 2 – Nurgozhay hits a second round for just the third time in his career and he looks fine. Szewczyk goes right back to the kicking game while Nurgozhay is sticking true to his boxing. The leg kicks from Szewczyk look like they are starting to take some effect. He tries to go high but it’s blocked by Nurgozhay, who answers with some boxing combinations. Both men are struggling to do anything to change the momentum of the fight, but A is fine with it as his boxing is doing well and he seems to have a hold on the kicking range. Szewczyk finally shoots for the first takedown of the fight with two minutes left, but he’s easily denied and Nurgozhay feed him a knee to the body on the break from the clinch. Szewczyk just misses with an uppercut. A loads up a huge left head kick that lands clean to the face of Szewczyk! He goes flying back and Nurgozhay jumps in with a follow-up punch to close the show. It’s over. Explosive finish by Nurgozhay to stay undefeated.
Surgeon by day, soon-to-be UFC fighter by night? David Martinez is simply built different.
Some folks say there’s not enough time in the day to get daily tasks done, but [autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] is proving that to be a myth.
Until recently, Martinez (10-1) simultaneously juggled not one – but two – highly-demanding professional paths. Martinez was a surgeon by day and a fighter by night. He worked in family medicine at a hospital in Mexico.
“It’s very nice because I wake up very early,” Martinez told MMA Junkie. “Then we go to a hospital around 7 o’clock. Then we have many, many patients. I helped with surgery. Sometimes, I stayed very long in the hospital.”
Martinez would then go home, then to training, then back home for a quick snooze before the process began all over again. That was the daily grind – until the UFC came knocking.
It was a difficult decision to put practicing medicine to the side, especially given the current lucrative differential. But Martinez figures the window to compete as a professional athlete is slim compared to working in a hospital.
“I stopped the medicine career for a little time, because I want to put all my focus, all my time in this opportunity, because I know this opportunity is the biggest opportunity and the biggest league in the world,” Martinez said. “… It was very difficult, but I make a decision. For medicine, we have a lot of time. For this sport, it’s a very short career.”
Martinez made a name for himself with Combate Global, becoming the promotion’s bantamweight champion. With nine finishes in 10 wins, the UFC came knocking immediately once his contractual ties to Combate were up.
Martinez will compete Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 74 against undefeated Texas-based bantamweight Xavier Franklin (5-0).
If all goes well, Martinez hopes to put on an impressive performance in front of Dana White and then join his sister “Super Mely” Melissa Martinez in the UFC.
Melissa (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is scheduled for her second promotional bout Oct. 19 at UFC Fight Night 245 vs. Alice Ardelean (9-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) after a lengthy time on the shelf due to a knee injury.
David is one year younger than Melissa but served as inspiration for his sister’s MMA path. David was first to pursue combat sports, and it wasn’t long thereafter that Melissa signed up, too. They estimate they each began around 3 years old, which makes sense given their parents are also martial artists.
“I started in this sport for him,” Melissa told MMA Junkie. “He started in MMA. He was the first fighter in professional ranks. Then I fought in professional MMA. But I started because of him.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvqP9zQOyUI/
They went from karate to kickboxing before they came across Bonebreakers MMA in Mexico City. They remain at Bonebreakers MMA to this day.
The Martinez siblings will become the second brother-sister tandem in UFC history should he earn a contract (joining Mizuki and Naoki Inoue in the record books).
“She always gets the goals,” David said. “She inspired me to be better today and the other days. … Fighting in the UFC with my sister is my biggest dream. That’s all.”
But the hopes and dreams don’t end there. The Martinezs know they have a long way to go, but the thought of being siblings holding titles in the UFC is an unavoidable thought.
“Of course we want to be champions some day,” David said. “We start with little, short steps – step-by-step – to achieve our goals.”
Ex-Combate Global champion David Martinez is hoping to sign with UFC.
[autotag]David Martinez[/autotag], one of Mexico’s best talents today, is one step closer to achieving his ultimate dream.
The 25-year-old bantamweight has parted ways with his long-time promotion, Combate Global, where he was a dominant champion, and is looking for a new home, specifically a spot on the UFC roster. Martinez (10-1) terminated his contract with the promotion last weekend, and his team has already begun a search for an opportunity in the octagon.
“My people are looking at that possibility, and they’re looking to see if they can get me a UFC contract – which is where I want to go,” Martinez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “But as of now, there’s nothing signed.”
Martinez is on a six-fight winning streak, with five of those wins coming by stoppage. That run includes a TKO win over former UFC fighter Francisco Rivera.
“The Black Spartan” knows there are many options today in MMA, and that his services could be in high demand. Yet, although he’s not fully closed to other options, he does want to fight for the UFC above anything else.
“We know that there are many options today, but my truth is that my dream is to be in the UFC, so that’s what we’re going for,” Martinez said.
Martinez feels a little nervous stepping into free agency, but he’s also excited about what may come in his future. If the UFC were to call, he assures that he’s more than ready to compete in the octagon and join his older sister Melissa Martinez as part of the UFC roster.
“I feel ready, I feel prepared, and I’m physically healthy,” Martinez said. “I have no injuries and the truth is that I’ve been training very hard, and I feel mentally and physically in very good form. I can definitely fight there (in the UFC).
Watch David Martinez score a nasty spinning wheel-kick KO in his second Combate Global title defense.
[autotag]David Martinez[/autotag]’s highlight reel continues to grow.
The Combate Global bantamweight champion defended his title with an acrobatic, spinning wheel-kick knockout in the main event of “Combate Global: Martinez vs Zarauz.” Martinez (10-1) put away [autotag]Jose Zarauz[/autotag] (23-10-1) in the fourth round of their championship contest.
The event took place Sunday at the Mediapro Studios in Miami, and streamed on Paramount+.
You can watch Martinez’s knockout in the video below (via Twitter):
David Martinez (10-1) defiende su título de peso gallo de Combate Global con una extraordinaria patada giratoria en el cuarto asalto sobre José Zarauz (23-10-1) #CombateGlobalpic.twitter.com/bzSZsniEHa
Martinez, brother of UFC strawweight Melissa Martinez, is on quite the streak of six consecutive wins, including five finishes. One of those stoppages came over former UFC contender Francisco Rivera.
The most recent’s victory marked Martinez’s second title defense of his Combate Global bantamweight title. His lone career loss came in 2021 in a split decision against Gianni Vazquez.
