LAS VEGAS – Jonathan Martinez and Adrian Yanez had formed something of a bond prior to their UFC Fight Night 230 bout, and that ultimately made the way their fight unfolded all the more painful.
After bonding over eating brownies during International Fight Week this past summer, Martinez (19-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Yanez (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) were paired up for a bantamweight bout on Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex. It was a one-sided affair, with Martinez chopping his opponent’s legs down until he got the second-round TKO finish.
It was a significant performance for Martinez, who became the second fighter in UFC history to have multiple leg kick finishes. Moreover, he received a Performance of the Night bonus, and extended his winning streak to six consecutive fights. All the accolades are nice, but Martinez said he didn’t love the amount of damage he had to inflict.
“I just felt really bad,” Martinez told MMA Junkie and other reporters in his post-fight press conference. “I kept looking at the ref like, ‘Just stop it, already.’ I think he screamed twice or three times. I just felt bad.”
Martinez, who is about as quiet and reserved as any ranked fighter on the UFC roster, knows what he had to to Yanez is ultimately just business. Additionally, he knows these are the types of wins that are needed if he wants to move forward in a loaded 135-pound division.
“Everybody I fight I feel like, we have a job to do,” Martinez said. “Everybody has a family, so I’m just going in there doing my job.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 230.
