Will Martinez (born August 31, 1980) is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

who competed in Bellator's

Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, t ...

division.

Background

In early 2011, Martinez opened his Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts and Muay Thai school, ''Martinez Brazilian jiu-jitsu'' in Philadelphia. He is also brother of fellow mixed martial artist Jesus Martinez.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Martinez started his professional career in 2009. He fought only for New Jersey and Pennsylvania-based promotions, as ''Ring of Combat'' and ''Locked in the Cage''. In 2012, Martinez signed with Bellator.

Bellator MMA

Martinez was expected to make his promotional debut against TUF 12 competitor Andy Main on April 13, 2012 at Bellator 65. However, Martinez instead faced Terrell Hobbs at the same event. He won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round. Martinez faced Casey Johnson on September 28, 2012 at Bellator 74. He won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round. Martinez was expected to face Michael Phillips on April 4, 2013 at

Bellator 95 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five weight classes and all of the champions, except the heavyweight ch ...

. However, Phillips was replaced by Michael Hess due to undisclosed reasons. He won via ground-and-pound knockout in the first round. Martinez faced Kevin Roddy on November 15, 2013 at

Bellator 108 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five weight classes and all of the champions, except the heavyweight ch ...

. He won the fight via submission due to a rear-naked choke in round one. Martinez faced

Goiti Yamauchi is a Japanese-born Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division for Bellator MMA. As of December 13, 2022, he is #5 in the Bellator Welterweight Rankings. Background Yamauchi was born in Anjō, Aichi to ...

in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season ten featherweight tournament on February 28, 2014 at

Bellator 110 2014 in Bellator MMA was the tenth season for Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion. It began on February 28, 2014 and aired on Spike TV. The season included tournaments for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, Light Heavyweight, ...

. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Martinez faced

Desmond Green Desmond Green (born October 11, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division for Ultimate Fighting Championship. Green is the current BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Middleweight and Police Gazette Diamond Belt cha ...

in the tournament semifinals at

Bellator 114 2014 in Bellator MMA was the tenth season for Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion. It began on February 28, 2014 and aired on Spike TV. The season included tournaments for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, Light Heavyweight ...

on March 28, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and later announced his retirement.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 10–3–1 , Andres Jeudi , Decision (unanimous) , Matrix Fights 9 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

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, Decision (unanimous) ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2–1 ,

, Decision (unanimous) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2–1 , Kevin Roddy , Submission (rear-naked choke) ,

, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:50 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2–1 , Mervin Rodriguez , Submission (armbar) , Matrix Fights 8 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:08 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2–1 , Michael Hess , KO (punches) ,

, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:15 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–2–1 , Casey Johnson , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Bellator 74 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:27 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–2–1 , Terrell Hobbs , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Bellator 65 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:13 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–2–1 , Vamana Brown , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Xtreme Fight Events: Cage Wars 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:32 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–2–1 , Neil Johnson , KO (punch) , Locked in the Cage 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:35 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 1–2–1 ,

Alexandre Bezerra Alexandre Bezerra (born 25 September 1987) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight division. Mixed martial arts career Early career Bezerra made his professional MMA debut in July 2008. He quickly established an ...

, Submission (guillotine choke) , Locked in the Cage 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:36 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–1–1 , Mitch Lyons , TKO (punches) , Matrix Fights 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:52 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 0–1–1 , Liam Kerrigan , Submission (kneebar) , Ring of Combat 27 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:07 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States , , - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–1 , Al Iaquinta , Draw (unanimous) , Ring of Combat 24 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:00 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States ,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, William 1980 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from Pennsylvania Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu American Muay Thai practitioners Sportspeople from Philadelphia