Ryan Martinez

Ryan Martinez
Born August 27, 1987
Greeley, Colorado, United States
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 257 lb (117 kg; 18.4 st)
Division Heavyweight (265 lb)
Super Heavyweight (no limit)
Reach 72 in (183 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Fighting out of Greeley, Colorado, United States
Team Infinite MMA
Years active 2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 15
Wins 10
By knockout 5
By submission 2
By decision 3
Losses 5
By knockout 4
By decision 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ryan Martinez (born August 27, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in Bellator's Heavyweight division.

Background

Martinez was born in Greeley, Colorado. He grew up wrestling and had a promising future, being a top ranked wrestler in the state of Colorado (third in the country as a senior) while at Greeley West High School, and a two-time All-American. The young Martinez was offered full-scholarships from many different colleges, but began getting involved with drugs and alcohol, and eventually dropped out of high school as he began dealing drugs.

Martinez was addicted to methamphetamines and was arrested once for drug trafficking. He spent three and a half years in prison and two years on parole. The time in prison was especially hard on Martinez because he missed the first two years of his daughter Taylor's life.

After his time in prison, he got a job as an ironworker and started to train MMA, which helped him to overcome his past.[1]

MMA career

Early career

After a successful amateur career, Martinez began as a professional in 2010. He fought mainly for the Colorado-based promotion Fight To Win. With a MMA record of 5–1, he signed with ProElite.

ProElite

Martinez made his debut against former NCAA division I national wrestling champion Mark Ellis on November 5, 2011 in the opening round of the heavyweight tournament. He won via unanimous decision and advanced to the semifinal. [2]

In the semifinal on January 21, 2012, Martinez faced Cody Griffin. He won via unanimous decision.[3]

Martinez was expected to face Richard Odoms in the finals,[3] but in early 2012 ProElite has entered into a partnership with DREAM,[4] which has gone out of business soon after.[5] Martinez then signed with Bellator.[6]

Bellator Fighting Championships

Martinez made his debut against Mike Wessel on August 24, 2012 at Bellator 73. He lost via split decision (29-28 Wessel, 30-27 Martinez, 29-28 Wessel).[7][8]

Martinez faced Manny Lara on October 5, 2012 at Bellator 75. He won via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28).[9]

Martinez faced Travis Wiuff on March 21, 2013 at Bellator 93. He won via knockout in the very first round.[10]

In June 2013, Martinez entered the Bellator Summer Series Heavyweight tournament as an injury replacement for Vinicius Queiroz.[11] He faced Rich Hale in the opening round at Bellator 96 and won via knockout in the first round.

Martinez faced Vitaly Minakov in the finals on July 31, 2013 at Bellator 97. He lost via TKO in the third round.[12]

Martinez then fought Lavar Johnson in the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season Ten Heavyweight tournament at Bellator 111. He lost via TKO in the first round.[13]

Martinez faced Nick Rossborough on September 26, 2014 at Bellator 126.[14] He lost the fight via TKO due to injury after tearing his left bicep in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 10–5 Nick Rossborough TKO (injury) Bellator 126 September 26, 2014 1 5:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States Martinez tore his left bicep in round one.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 10–4 Lavar Johnson TKO (punches) Bellator 111 March 7, 2014 1 4:22 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Bellator Season 10 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 10–3 Vitaly Minakov TKO (punches) Bellator 97 July 31, 2013 3 4:02 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Bellator 2013 Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Final
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–2 Rich Hale KO (punches) Bellator 96 June 19, 2013 1 2:19 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Bellator 2013 Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–2 Travis Wiuff KO (punches) Bellator 93 March 21, 2013 1 0:18 Lewiston, Maine, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–2 Manny Lara Decision (majority) Bellator 75 October 5, 2012 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–2 Mike Wessel Decision (split) Bellator 73 August 24, 2012 3 5:00 Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Cody Griffin Decision (unanimous) ProElite 3 - Da Spyder vs. Minowaman January 21, 2012 3 5:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States ProElite heavyweight tournament semifinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Mark Ellis Decision (unanimous) ProElite 2 - Big Guns November 5, 2011 3 5:00 Moline, Illinois, United States ProElite heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 Brandon Endriss Technical submission (guillotine choke) ROF 41 - Bragging Rights August 20, 2011 1 3:45 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–1 Richard White Submission (punches) Fight To Win - Outlaws May 14, 2011 1 2:24 Denver, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–1 Jeremiah Martinez TKO (punches) Fight To Win - Mortal Combat February 25, 2011 1 0:51 Denver, Colorado, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 2–1 Derrick Lewis TKO (punches) Fight to Win/King of Champions - Worlds Collide July 24, 2010 2 1:03 Denver, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Justyn Riley KO (punch) Fight To Win - War April 17, 2010 1 0:26 Denver, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Vernon Lewis TKO (punches) Fight To Win - Phenoms January 30, 2010 2 3:22 Denver, Colorado, United States

Mixed martial arts amateur record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Omar Belal KO (suplex and punches) RMBB - MMA Madness August 14, 2009 1 0:54 Sheridan, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Donnie Bell TKO (punches) RMBB - Battle in the Cage: Total Domination June 5, 2009 1 0:13 Sheridan, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Emanuel Martinez TKO (punches) RMBB - Baddest of the Bad April 17, 2009 1 0:34 Sheridan, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Shawn Martin TKO (punches) RMBB - Battle of the Belts January 23, 2009 1 0:19 Sheridan, Colorado, United States

References

  1. ↑ Bellator 93's Ryan Martinez on new path after years spent behind bars by Matt Erickson (MMAjunkie.com) on March 21, 2013
  2. ↑ ProElite 2 results: Ex-UFC champs Sylvia and Arlovski victorious by Dann Stupp (MMAjunkie.com) on November 6, 2011
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ProElite 3 results: Grove, McMann victorious; Odoms-Martinez book final MMAJunkie.com (January 21, 2012)
  4. ↑ ProElite to Partner with DREAM by Rai Hui (MMAFighting.com) on January 17, 2012
  5. ↑ The Dream is gone; Japanese MMA promotion runs out of viable options by Ken Pishna (MMAweekly.com) on June 3, 2012
  6. ↑ Heavyweight Ryan Martinez joins Bellator Fighting Championships, debuts Aug. 24 at Bellator 73 by Mike Whitman (Sherdog.com) on June 8, 2012
  7. ↑ Bellator 73 results: Vegh stops Wiuff; Galvão takes Season 6 bantamweight crown by Steven Marrocco (MMAjunkie.com) on August 24, 2012
  8. ↑ The Insider W/ Ryan Martinez by Dane Ford (MMAInsider.net) on June 4, 2013
  9. ↑ Bellator 75 prelims results – Ryan Martinez earns tournament alternate slot, Beebe rolls by Jesse Denis (MMAfrenzy.com) on October 5, 2012
  10. ↑ Bellator 93 results recap for 'Jansen vs Held' last night (March 21) from Lewiston by Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com) on March 22, 2013
  11. ↑ "Queiroz off Bellator 96, Ryan Martinez meets Rich Hale in heavyweight tourney". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  12. ↑ Bellator 97 results: Chandler KOs Rickels, Askren stops Koreshkov MMAjunkie.com (July 31, 2013)
  13. ↑ "Bellator 111 results: Dantas vs. Leone". mmafighting.com. March 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Seven-fight preliminary card rounds out Bellator 126 in Phoenix". mmajunkie.com. September 9, 2014.