There’s a saying: “By no means meet your heroes.” However what about beating them up?
On Saturday night time at UFC 301, Jonathan Martinez goes up towards a 3rd fighter he admired rising up when he faces Jose Aldo within the co-main occasion. Upon first receiving the provide, Martinez admittedly did a double take — he didn’t notice instantly that he was dealing with the Jose Aldo, as a result of that Jose Aldo retired again in 2022.
As soon as he realized it was arguably the best featherweight in historical past and a relentless presence among the many finest fighters at 135 kilos, Martinez shifted his focus towards beating Aldo. In some ways, he felt robust similarities between his upcoming battle and previous UFC encounters he shared with Cub Swanson and Thomas Almeida.
“I used to be truly watching [Jose Aldo] once I was within the eighth, ninthe grade once I was watching the WEC,” Martinez informed MMA Combating. “The identical factor watching Cub Swanson. I used to be sitting on my sofa with my dad and mom, my brother, and watching these fights. I by no means thought I used to be going to battle them, however right here we’re.”
Going again even additional, Martinez recounted the primary time UFC compelled him to modify from fan to opponent when tasked with dealing with one among his favourite fighters.
“That is my third time going towards [someone I admired],” Martinez stated. “My first time was Thomas Almeida, I used to be an enormous fan of him. I bear in mind I shared on my Instagram that he was going to be a world champ in the future when he was popping out of Legacy [FC], he was simply beating guys up.
“Then when the identify got here up, I believe it was a short-notice battle and I informed my coach we’d take it. I went on the market and I beat him. After that, I used to be like, ‘That was fairly cool.’”
Martinez beat Almeida by resolution. Two years later, he chopped down Swanson with leg kicks to earn a Efficiency of the Night time bonus.
He hopes so as to add Aldo to his win column in related vogue at UFC 301, as a result of as a lot as he respects “The King of Rio,” Martinez is aware of it’s his personal time to shine.
“I’m going on the market to make an announcement to all people,” Martinez stated. “Hopefully get a few of his followers too. He had his probability. Now I ought to have my probability.
“That is going to be actual good. Excited I bought this chance to battle and it’s even higher to battle somebody of their city. I like that feeling.”
So far as the matchup goes, Martinez gained’t give away any secrets and techniques for his technique, however there’s undoubtedly been some famous curiosity in watching him change leg kicks with any individual like Aldo.
Throughout his rise to fame within the WEC and finally the UFC, Aldo routinely brutalized his opponents with leg kicks, together with a memorable efficiency the place he left Urijah Faber with so many bruises that it appeared as if Faber was sporting purple pants.
In the meantime, Martinez has stopped two of his previous three opponents with leg kicks, which seemingly units the stage for him to play lumberjack with Aldo.
However Martinez is fast to level out that he has extra in his arsenal than simply leg kicks, so don’t count on him to start out swinging these simply to show a degree as a result of he’s preventing Aldo.
“I’m going to attempt to combine every part up,” Martinez stated. “He’s actually good in all places. I’m going to attempt to do every part. It’s combined martial arts. Some fights I throw kicks, some fights I don’t. We’ll see.”
Greater than something, Martinez simply desires to proceed climbing up the ranks at bantamweight, and dealing with a legend like Aldo helps. He has nothing however admiration for the legendary Brazilian, however Martinez has no drawback taking part in spoiler to Aldo in his house nation, in what appears prone to be Aldo’s ultimate look within the UFC.
“I’m excited for that,” Martinez stated. “Truthfully simply to point out my talent and present I do belong within the prime 5. If I’m going get him out of there, it’s going to deliver plenty of eyes. In order that’s my aim — to get him out of there.”
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