Anthony Rocco Martin

Anthony Rocco Martin (born December 11, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight and welterweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background Born in Palos Heights, Illinois, Martin moved to Worth, Illinois, before settling in Wisconsin during his junior high school years. After graduating high school, where he played football, Martin attended college and briefly played football at North Dakota State University before dropping out. After dropping out Martin began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career Martin made his professional mixed martial arts debut on January 7, 2012, when he faced Bruce Johnson at Cage Fighting Xtreme 30. He won the fight via first round rear-naked choke. Following the quick win, he compiled a record of 8–0, including a notable win over UFC veteran Phillipe Nover at Dakota FC 14, before being signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in late 2013.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In his official UFC debut, Martin faced fellow newcomer Rashid Magomedov at UFC 169 on February 1, 2014. Though he had Magomedov in trouble early with a deep armbar, Magomedov rallied back and Martin lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Martin then faced Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos on August 23, 2014. Martin lost the fight via rear-naked choke in the second round.

For his third fight with the promotion, he faced Fabrício Camões in a catchweight bout (both fighters missed weight) at UFC 179 on October 25, 2014. He won the fight via first round kimura lock, getting his first UFC win in the process.

Martin next faced Leonardo Santos on March 21, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 62, as a replacement for an injured Matt Wiman. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Martin faced promotional newcomer Felipe Olivieri on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18. Martin earned a come from behind victory as he submitted Oilveiri in the third round.

Martin was expected to face Michel Prazeres on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20. However, Martin pulled out of the fight in early July citing a neck injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer J.C. Cottrell.

Martin was expected to face Erik Koch on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103. However, Koch pulled out of the fight on December 12 citing an injury and was replaced by Alex White. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Martin faced Johnny Case on June 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 112. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Martin faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on September 16, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 116. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Martin faced Keita Nakamura in a welterweight bout on April 21, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 128. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Martin faced Ryan LaFlare on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229. He won the fight via knockout in the third round after dropping LaFlare with a head kick and following up with punches. This victory marked Martin's first professional victory by way of knockout.

Martin faced Jake Matthews on December 2, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 142. He won the fight via an anaconda choke in round three.

Martin faced Sérgio Moraes on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Martin faced Demian Maia on June 29, 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos. He lost the fight via majority decision.

Martin faced Ramazan Emeev on November 9, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 21. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Martin was scheduled to face David Zawada on April 25, 2020. However, on April 9 the promotion indicated that the pairing had been scrapped as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Martin faced Neil Magny on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Martin and the UFC parted ways after the completion of his most recent contract allowing him to negotiate with other promotions.

CES Martin made his first appearance since leaving the UFC headlining against Tim Bazer at CES 68 on May 6, 2022. He won the bout via brabo choke in the second round.

Legal incidents Martin was arrested on November 23, 2021, for one count each of battery and lewd/dissolute conduct in a public place in Las Vegas for allegedly urinating in a hallway at Caesars Palace and punching a security officer in the throat after he was confronted. Martin was released later and is expected to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on January 19, 2022

Mixed martial arts record Win

Tim Bazer Submission (brabo choke) CES 68

West Fargo, North Dakota, United States Loss

Neil Magny Decision (unanimous) UFC 250

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ramazan Emeev Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar

Moscow, Russia Loss

Demian Maia Decision (majority) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Sérgio Moraes Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos

Wichita, Kansas, United States Win

Jake Matthews Technical Submission (anaconda choke) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa

Adelaide, Australia Win

Ryan LaFlare KO (head kick and punches) UFC 229

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Keita Nakamura Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Olivier Aubin-Mercier Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Branch

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Johnny Case Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Win

Alex White Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Felipe Olivieri Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Leonardo Santos Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Fabrício Camões Submission (kimura) UFC 179

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Loss

Beneil Dariush Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Rashid Magomedov Decision (unanimous) UFC 169

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Thomas Gifford Submission (americana) 3 River Throwndown 4

La Crescent, Minnesota, United States Win

Tyler Hellenbrand Decision (unanimous) Dakota FC 15

Fargo, North Dakota, United States Win

Phillipe Nover Decision (majority) Dakota FC 14

Fargo, North Dakota, United States Win

Ted Worthington Submission (kimura) CFX: Cage Fighting Xtreme

Maplewood, Minnesota, United States Win

Jay Ellis Submission (guillotine choke) Cage Fighting Xtreme 39

Maplewood, Minnesota, United States Win

Jonathan Knutson Submission (kimura) Throwdown at the Crowne 1

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States Win

Kuchlong Kuchlong Submission (inverted triangle choke) Cage Fighting Xtreme 33

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Bruce Johnson Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Fighting Xtreme 30

St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States