TLDR
- David Martinez defeated Marlon Vera by unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards) in the UFC Mexico co-main event
- Martinez used speed and movement to land quick combinations before circling away from Vera’s power
- Vera surged late in the third round and appeared to hurt Martinez, but time ran out before he could finish
- Fellow fighter Vinicius Oliveira questioned the decision, saying Martinez was “running away the whole fight”
- The win moves Martinez to 3-0 in the UFC while Vera suffers his third straight loss
Sources: filmogaz.com | mmafighting.com | sports.yahoo.com
David Martinez won a unanimous decision over Marlon Vera in the co-main event of UFC Mexico on February 28, but the performance sparked debate among fighters and fans. All three judges scored the bantamweight bout 29-28 for Martinez, moving him to 3-0 in the UFC.
Martinez relied on speed and precise striking throughout the fight. He repeatedly landed quick two and three-punch combinations before moving out of range of Vera’s dangerous counters.
Early Control and Ground Strikes
Martinez established his game plan early when he caught a kick from Vera and put him on the canvas in the first round. He landed several ground strikes before the round ended.
As the fight continued, Martinez mixed body shots with head strikes while using fast footwork to circle away. Vera landed at least one head kick that connected, but Martinez absorbed it and secured another takedown before Vera could capitalize.
Vera marched forward throughout the fight but struggled to land clean shots on the moving target. Martinez stayed elusive and picked his moments to attack.
Late Pressure and Controversial Finish
Before the third round began, Vera’s coach Jason Parillo told his fighter to go for broke because a decision win looked unlikely. Vera increased his pressure and started throwing with more urgency.
In the final moments, Vera unleashed a barrage of punches that appeared to hurt Martinez. Martinez stayed defensive and fired back shots while moving until the final horn sounded.
After the decision was announced, Martinez acknowledged Vera’s toughness. “He’s a really hard fighter. He hits really hard. I’m here to represent and I’m really happy,” Martinez said in his post-fight interview.
Martinez added that he was ready for any opponent the UFC gives him next. The win positions him for a higher-ranked opponent in the bantamweight division.
For Vera, the loss marks his third in a row, the longest losing streak of his career. The former bantamweight title challenger was unable to land the finish he needed despite his late surge.
Not everyone was impressed with Martinez’s performance. Bantamweight fighter Vinicius Oliveira took to Twitter to question the decision.
“It’s hard to understand lately, how did Martinez beat Vera if he was getting beaten up and running away the whole fight?” Oliveira wrote. His comment reflected a split opinion among observers about Martinez’s tactics.
Some viewed Martinez’s approach as smart fighting against a dangerous opponent with knockout power. Others felt he was too defensive and didn’t engage enough to earn a clear victory.
The judges saw it differently, awarding all three rounds to Martinez by a single point. The close scorecards reflected how competitive the fight was despite Martinez’s movement advantage.
Martinez will likely face questions about his style as he moves up the rankings. The debate over whether his performance showcased his full potential or left fans wanting more will likely continue.
Vera’s corner instructions in the final round showed they knew the decision was slipping away. The urgency he showed in the closing minutes came too late to change the judges’ minds on the scorecards.
