Metro Fight Club has largely flown under the radar over the past few years, but the Houston-based gym and head coach Saul Soliz have entered the spotlight in 2020.
After bantamweight Adrian Yanez punched his ticket to the UFC at Dana White’s Contender Series 28, his teammate Jacob Silva thrilled the UFC brass in a back-and-forth battle two weeks later. Though he didn’t earn the deal, Silva received high praise from UFC president Dana White.
Bantamweight Mana Martinez hopes to prove the age-old saying “good things come in threes” accurate Tuesday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas when he becomes the third Metro Fight Club fighter to make the DWCS walk in 2020.
A flashy striker, the 24-year-old knockout artist hopes to keep the ball rolling for his home gym and head coach Soliz.
“It was so exciting seeing Adrian go out there and start it off for us three – doing it how fast he did it and how impressive he did it,” Martinez said. “Then seeing Jacob having Dana basically on his feet at the end of the fight. Of course, I’m confident he’ll get the call back. Yeah, it was just awesome seeing that. Now it’s here. It’s my turn. I’m going to go out there and finish it strong. Us three will be in the UFC by the end of the year.”
Standing in Martinez’s path will be fellow top 135-pound prospect Drako Rodriguez. Like Martinez (6-1), Rodriguez (6-1) has finished a majority of his professional fights inside the distance.
“He’s got a similar record to mine and I think his style will match up well against mine,” Martinez said. “Maybe not in a sense where he comes out with his hand raised, but I think it will definitely allow me to go out there and show my skillset the best way and show everybody who I am.”
Though he’s only 24, Martinez has been preparing for this opportunity his entire life. To earn a UFC deal would vindicate all of the commitment Martinez put into his craft over the years. He’d prove his family – and himself – proud.
“It’d mean everything – a lifetime of work,” Martinez said. “It’s all on one fight. It’d just mean the world. I don’t know how else to put it. I kind of get choked up about talking about it because it’s just so crazy. It’s just so surreal.
“Yeah, it’d mean the world – especially for my parents, my family, my little brother, my sister. Just going out there and knowing how young I was when I started doing this. For me to go out there and win would be a dream come true.”
DWCS 32 streams on ESPN+.
Mana Martinez inspired by Metro Fight Club’s DWCS success, confident he’ll keep the ball rolling