Umar Nurmagomedov will face No. 9-ranked David Martinez in the co-main event of the UFC Abu Dhabi card on July 25. The bantamweight contest adds star power to what is shaping up to be a strong summer card.
The bantamweight division gets a high-profile matchup on July 25, as No. 2-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov will take on No. 9-ranked David "Black Spartan" Martinez in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi.
Nurmagomedov enters the contest as one of the most complete fighters in the 135-pound division. The 30-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a 20-1-0 record and has built a reputation as a technically precise, well-rounded threat. Standing five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach, he lands 3.86 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 56 percent — an elite mark at any level. His grappling adds another layer of danger, with 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes making him a constant threat to bring fights to the mat.
Martinez, a 27-year-old from Mexico representing Bonebreakers MMA, brings an aggressive offensive style to the matchup. Known as the Black Spartan, he holds a 14-1-0 record and generates volume on the feet, averaging 4.82 significant strikes per minute. He stands five-foot-five with a 67-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. His striking accuracy sits at 46 percent, and his game is built primarily around his hands rather than grappling, averaging just 0.6 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Nurmagomedov sits just two spots from a potential title shot, making a strong performance here critical to his championship case
- Martinez cracking the top five would be a significant leap for a fighter ranked ninth, giving him massive upside
- The stylistic contrast is sharp — a high-accuracy grappler against a high-volume striker who prefers to keep the fight standing
- The co-main event slot elevates both fighters' profiles on what is already shaping up as a strong summer card in Abu Dhabi
