UFC bantamweights Jonathan Martinez and Davey Grant will meet at UFC Vegas 21, this Saturday night at the APEX.
This is the sixth UFC event in as many weeks. The bantamweight division has showcased its depth of talent in this period with nine bouts, including the title changing hands in unprecedented fashion. The tenth 135-pound bout in this run is an interesting one, moving up to the main card following the removal of the Ben Rothwell and Philipe Lins fight.
Jonathan “Dragon” Martinez (13-3-0) will look to improve his record in the UFC to 5-2 if he can get past the tough grappler Davey Grant (10-4-0). Grant will extend his record to three wins in a row if he gets by the well-rounded fighter from Factory X. Both will be looking for a ranked opponent if they can put on an impressive performance this Saturday night.
So, how do the fighters shape up?
Jonathan Martinez vs Davey Grant Breakdown
Jonathan Martinez
On the face of it, Jonathan Martinez will look to cause Grant issues on the feet. Grant will look to grapple early but he could struggle with the versatility of Martinez, who has shown in previous fights his ability to escape precarious positions on the mat. A major key in this fight could be the “Dragon’s” use, or overuse, of the left high kick and knee. He throws this constantly and has found success, particularly with the knee, leading to two stoppages in the UFC. However, it could also be a route to the ground if Grant can shoot for a single leg while Martinez throws a left kick.
The fighter from Factory X has a 46% significant strike count in the UFC but his defence is much more impressive with 58% strikes successfully defended. It certainly looks like he will have the advantage on the feet. He shapes up nicely in the grappling department, with a 61% takedown defence. If he can nullify the takedown threat of Grant, Martinez will look to impose a striking-based game on his opponent and maybe even look for a stoppage victory.
Davey Grant
“Dangerous” Davey Grant has had impressive wins against the likes of Marlon Vera and Martin Day in the UFC, and beating Jonathan Martinez will be another impressive name on his record if he can get by him on Saturday. Grant will likely struggle with the striking of Martinez. He will likely look to grapple early to grind the first round, causing damage on the ground while threatening submissions.
While Grant will look for success on the mat, he will be wary of his opponent’s ability to submit as he has been submitted himself twice in the UFC. Even getting a well-rounded fighter like Jonathan Martinez to the ground could be an issue for Grant, as he only has a 47% takedown success, but if he can add volume to his takedowns, he could well find success.
If Dangerous Davey is to win this, he will need to offer a constant grappling threat to nullify the striking of Martinez. Based on the stats, it may well be a tall task for Grant to take the win.
Who do you see winning between Jonathan Martinez and Davey Grant? Let us know your prediction in the comments below!
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