Lucas Martins

Lucas Martins (born 11 November 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of Brave Combat Federation, where he is a former interim lightweight champion. A professional mixed martial artist since 2011, Martins has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Martins started his MMA career in 2011; before that he competed in muay thai, achieving a 34–2 record. He fought only for Brazilian-based promotions such as Jungle Fight and MMA Rocks. With a record of twelve wins and no losses, Martins signed with the UFC.

Lucas Martins is managed by Wade Hampel of Big Fight Management.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Martins made his promotional debut on short notice, replacing an injured Justin Salas against Edson Barboza on 19 January 2013 at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping. Martins had his first defeat due to TKO (retirement) in the first round.

Martins faced Jeremy Larsen, a contestant of The Ultimate Fighter: Live, on 18 May 2013, at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold. Despite taking a significant amount of damage in the first two rounds, Martins knocked Larsen out early in the third round. The performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

Martins next dropped from lightweight to bantamweight and faced promotional newcomer Junior Hernandez on 4 September 2013, at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader. He won the fight via technical submission in the first round.

Martins was expected to face Johnny Eduardo on 9 November 2013, at UFC Fight Night 32. However, both fighters were removed from the card due to injury.

Martins was expected to face Bryan Caraway on 22 February 2014, at UFC 170. However, Caraway pulled out of the bout citing and injury and was replaced by UFC newcomer Aljamain Sterling.

Martins was expected to face Jim Alers in a featherweight bout on 16 July 2014, at UFC Fight Night 45. However, Alers pulled out of the bout citing injury and was replaced by Alex White. Martins won the back and forth fight via knockout in the third round. The win also earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Martins faced Darren Elkins on 25 October 2014, at UFC 179. Elkins defeated Martins via split decision.

Martins faced Mirsad Bektić on 30 May 2015, at UFC Fight Night 67, replacing Renato Moicano. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Martins faced Robert Whiteford on 10 April 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86. Martins won the fight via split decision. Subsequently, the UFC elected not to renew Martin's contract – allowing him to sign elsewhere.

Brave CF After racking a couple of wins in Brazil's regional circuit, Martins signed with Brave Combat Federation. In the promotional debut Martins faced Fabian Galvan at Brave CF 3 and won the bout via Brabo choke in the second round.

On 13 April 2018, Martins faced Luan Santiago Carvalho for the interim lightweight championship. Martins was behind in the scorecards coming into the fifth and final round. In the final seconds of the round, Santiago dislocated his elbow when he was taken down by Martins and couldn't continue. Martins became a free agent after fighting out his two-fight contract with Brave, but elected to rapidly sign a new, five-fight contract with the organization.

Martins faced Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady for the undisputed lightweight championship at Brave CF 18 on 16 November 2018. Martins injured his left leg when he was taken down by Al-Selwady in the first round and referee stopped the fight.

On 25 July 2019, Martins was defeated by Bubba Jenkins at Brave 24 by TKO at 2:48 of the first round by way of unanswered strikes. Jenkins retained the Brave CF Featherweight Championship.

Martins was next scheduled to face Felipe Silva at Brave CF 35 on 28 March 2020, but Silva withdrew from the bout and was replaced with Abdul-Rakhman Makhaziev. However, the event has been postponed until a to-be-determined date due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Martins was next expected to face Luan Santiago in a rematch at Brave CF 41 on 17 September 2020. However, Martins was forced to withdraw due to an injury and the bout was scrapped.

Martins was scheduled to face Marcel Grabinski on 4 June 2021 at Brave CF 51. However, Grabinski has to pull out from the fight due to medical condition. The bout has been called off.

Martins scheduled again to face Marcel Grabinski on 21 August 2021 at Brave CF 53. According to BRAVE CF officials, Grabinski was forced to withdraw from the rescheduled bout a little bit less than week prior to the event due to Covid-19 protocols. Marcel hadn’t traveled to Kazakhstan and was replaced by local standout Olzhas Eskaraev. In an upset, Martins lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round.

Martins would then go on to face Henrique Marques on 30 July 2022 at Brave CF 60, winning via TKO stoppage a minute into the bout.

Martins faced Ylies Djiroun on 7 September 2023 at Brave CF 74, knocking out his opponent in the first round.

Martins fought Abdisalam Kubanychbek for the Brave CF Lightweight Championship on 5 December 2023 at Brave CF 77, losing the bout in the first round via TKO stoppage.

Global Fight League On 11 December 2024, it was announced that Martins was signed by Global Fight League.

Martins was scheduled to face Sage Northcutt in the inaugural Global Fight League event on May 24, 2025 at GFL 1. However, all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.

Personal life Martins owns a gym, Capital da Luta, in São Paulo.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Alex White Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Jeremy Larsen

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Abdisalam Kubanychbek TKO (punches) Brave CF 77

Isa Town, Bahrain Win

Ylies Djiroun KO (punches) Brave CF 74

Nantes, France Win

Henrique Marques TKO (punches) Brave CF 60

Isa Town, Bahrain Loss

Olzhas Eskaraev Submission (rear-naked choke) Brave CF 53

Almaty, Kazakhstan Loss

Bubba Jenkins TKO (punches) Brave CF 24

London, England Loss

Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady TKO (leg injury) Brave CF 18

Isa Town, Bahrain Win

Luan Santiago Carvalho TKO (arm injury) Brave CF 11: Mineiro vs. Santiago

Belo Horizonte, Brazil Win

Fabian Galvan Submission (Brabo Choke) Brave CF 3: Battle in Brazil

São José dos Pinhais, Brazil Win

Gilson Lomanto Submission (anaconda choke) Thunder Fight 9: Lomanto vs. Mineiro

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Sergio Leal Decision (unanimous) Thunder Fight 8: Silverio vs. Nunes

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Robert Whiteford Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos

Zagreb, Croatia Loss

Mirsad Bektić TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves

Goiânia, Brazil Loss

Darren Elkins Decision (split) UFC 179

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Alex White KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Miller

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Junior Hernandez Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader

Belo Horizonte, Brazil Win

Jeremy Larsen KO (punch) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold

Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil Loss

Edson Barboza TKO (punches) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Oberdan Vieira KO (head kick) Jungle Fight 46

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Thiago Sampaio Submission (rear-naked choke) MMA Rocks

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Jonatas Bernardo TKO (punches) Valiant Fighters Championship 11

Ribeirão Preto, Brazil Win

Carlos Eugênio TKO (punches) Warriors Fighting Championship 1

Taubaté, Brazil Win

João Paulo Melo TKO (body punches) Romani Fight Brasil 2: Night Fight Aldeia X

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Francisco Pinheiro TKO (punches) Romani Fight Brasil 2: Night Fight Aldeia X

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Renê Alves Decision (unanimous) Jaula Fight 2

Arcos, Brazil Win

Dilson Júnior TKO (punches) Supremacia Fight: Duelo de Titãs

Montes Claros, Brazil Win

Washington Rodrigues Submission (punches) Fight Night Enjoy Drinking 3

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Luiz Felipe TKO (punches) OctoFight 5

Divinópolis, Brazil Win

Leonir Irineu TKO (doctor stoppage) OctoFight 4: Duelo de Titãs

Itaúna, Brazil Win

Alex Hermogenes Submission (armbar) Qualifight

Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil