Jonathan Martinez
Active 2018–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 80.0
Scouting report
Jonathan "Dragon" Martinez is among the few fighters in UFC history to finish multiple bouts via leg-kick technical knockout, part of a six-fight winning streak up the bantamweight rankings. Born in Los Angeles, California and fighting out of Factory X, Martinez stopped Cub Swanson and Adrian Yanez with southpaw kicks. His kicking is reflected in an 87 Kickboxing score, 87 Cardio, and 80 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Martinez rebounded from a debut loss to Andre Soukhamthath with consecutive wins in 2019, outpointing Wuliji Buren and knocking out Liu Pingyuan with a knee in Sacramento at UFC Fight Night 155. His Muay Thai striking, low kicks, and distance control are reflected in a 78 Boxing and 82 Kickboxing score during this run through the ranks.
Between 2020 and 2021, Martinez earned three wins, over Frankie Saenz via TKO, Thomas Almeida by decision in Abu Dhabi, and Zviad Lazishvili, while suffering a knockout loss to Davey Grant at UFC Fight Night 187. His southpaw striking, body kicks, and kicking volume are captured in an 80 Boxing and 85 Kickboxing rating across these fights.
Martinez put together a five-fight winning streak between 2022 and 2023, stopping Cub Swanson and Adrian Yanez with leg kicks, before dropping a decision to Jose Aldo at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. His low kicks, pressure footwork, and boxing combinations justify his 81 Boxing and 87 Kickboxing score throughout this streak.
Jonathan Martinez, the Plainview kicker who started in taekwondo at 14
Jonathan Martinez was born in California and moved to Plainview, Texas, at 13. At 14 his father took him to a taekwondo class to teach him discipline, and that eventually led to MMA. He turned professional in 2014, held XFL titles at flyweight and bantamweight, and made his debut in the big promotion in October 2018 as a replacement for Gavin Tucker. He lost that fight to Andre Soukhamthath by decision.
Martinez, rating by rating
Boxing. 81 on the 2023 card. He dropped Davey Grant in the first round in 2021 before Grant turned it around.
Kickboxing. Tied for the top at 87. A taekwondo start fits the picture, and he knocked out Liu Pingyuan in the third round in 2019.
Wrestling. 76, eleven points below his kickboxing.
BJJ. 78. He won unanimous decisions over Lazishvili, Perez and Morales between 2021 and 2022.
Strength. His lowest at 74, thirteen points below his kickboxing.
Durability. 83. He beat Cub Swanson and Adrian Yanez, both by second-round TKO.
Cardio. Also 87, level with his kickboxing. He won decisions over Alejandro Perez and Vince Morales in 2022, then stopped Swanson.
Fight IQ. 82. He recovered from the Grant loss and won six in a row through October 2023.
Kickboxing and cardio share the top spot at 87
Both his kickboxing and cardio ratings are 87 on the 2023 card. He stopped Cub Swanson in the second round in October 2022 and Adrian Yanez by second-round TKO in October 2023, each with a Performance of the Night bonus. Liu Pingyuan fell to him by knockout in 2019 for the same award.
Not a physical bully: Strength at 74
Strength is his lowest rating at 74. Davey Grant knocked him out in the second round in 2021, and in 2024 Jose Aldo and Marcus McGhee both beat him by unanimous decision.
Keep exploring
Closest bantamweight profiles to Jonathan Martinez, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Kyler Phillipsbest cardio 88 · weakest strength 74
- Rob Fontbest cardio 90 · weakest strength 75
- Thomas Almeidabest kickboxing 86 · weakest wrestling 70
- Jimmie Riverabest cardio 88 · weakest strength 76
- Bantamweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Jonathan Martinez's strongest attribute, Kickboxing.
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Jonathan Martinez is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Jonathan Martinez's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.