Carrying an unblemished professional record alongside an impressive 19-fight amateur background, Alex Martinez (7-0) has been steadily climbing the ranks out of Grande Prairie, Alta.
Now comes the moment he has been building toward: a lightweight clash in his PFL bow against the highly skilled Loik Radzhabov (13-2-1) at 2021 PFL 1 this Friday evening in Atlantic City, N.J.
Fresh off yet another knockout victory, Martinez, now 26, saw the perfect opening to sign on with the PFL, one of the most rapidly expanding promotions in mixed martial arts.
"We could have taken any fight out there just to keep fighting, but we also knew it was time to move up to a bigger promotion because we had reached a higher level," Martinez told MMA Empire in conversation.
"The opposition we were getting, we weren't dominating them, but we were holding our own. Time to test myself against the real contenders."
Martinez has established himself as a thrilling prospect, managing to reach the judges' scorecards just once throughout his professional campaign.
Naturally, he would relish the chance to put on a spectacular performance and build upon his highlight reel this Saturday, though he has no intention of forcing his hand.
"From the moment the bell sounds, I am going to search for the finish however I can, but I will never force anything. I adapt to what comes," Martinez explained.
"I only push things if the situation demands a finish and nothing else works. I prefer to flow with my opponent—they often create the openings I've been hunting. Every finish on my resume stems from drills I run in the gym."
Martinez has not dwelled excessively on the implications of stepping onto a card that includes notable names like Anthony Pettis and Rory Macdonald, yet when pressed about it, the excitement is evident.
"My background has prepared me well for this," Martinez remarked.
"I always knew I would eventually be competing alongside fighters like that. I have been thinking that way for years. It feels great to finally be here, but now it is time to get to work and deliver results. I can't wait to show everyone what I have been hiding."
Opposing Martinez inside the cage on fight night is a fighter familiar with elite-level action.
During his five bouts across PFL's 2019 season, Radzhabov earned widespread attention through thrilling performances and undeniable toughness.
"I consider it a challenging matchup," Martinez acknowledged.
"Right now I am looking at a very high-caliber competitor who imposes his game plan consistently. That creates some of the toughest fights because those fighters never back down, they press forward relentlessly, and they keep coming until the final bell."
Radzhabov's fights have a habit of erupting into warzones at various points, something Martinez intends to sidestep when feasible. Still, readiness is assured.
"You have to mentally gear up for battle, but I cannot allow that to alter my approach because my game revolves around evasion," Martinez noted.
"I am aware he has faced formidable challengers, and I am ready for whatever comes. I consistently seek out training partners who have competed at high levels so I can be prepared to compete with the best."
Wielding a height and reach edge entering the cage, Martinez plans to leverage his advanced taekwondo skills to dictate positioning and dismantle Radzhabov piece by piece.
"I really hope my footwork frustrates him enough that I can start landing clean strikes from range," Martinez said.
"Against most fighters I face, I like staying at distance with plenty of feints and movement, overwhelming them. Eventually, he will likely shoot in or charge recklessly since he appears to be a very aggressive fighter who doesn't mind absorbing damage—he just keeps advancing. I thrive on setting traps, moving back and forth."
This sets up a clash of opposing approaches, and when Martinez and Radzhabov meet in the cage Saturday night, each will aim to demonstrate that their style reigns supreme.
"I am genuinely excited for this bout," Martinez declared.
"His style completely counters mine, and my style does the same to him. Let's see which approach proves superior, and I am confident it is mine."
Martinez's shoutouts
"All my coaches, my father, Luis Martinez, is always there for me and with me. All my sponsors, my wife, my mother, my sister and brother, and all my teammates back home." Follow Martinez on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
