When Mana Martinez steps into the cage on Saturday, he’ll do so for the final fight on his original four-fight deal with the UFC. Over the duration of the deal, he’s already racked up two wins, a pair of split decision victories over Guido Cannetti and Brandon Davis. Despite the success when it comes to record, the Texas native is looking to do something a little different this time.
“I keep telling myself – especially since this is the last fight on this contract – that I have to go out there and do what I know I’m capable of,” Martinez said. “That’s going in there and putting people away as early as I can.”
Despite having time literally run out on his deal, there’s no added pressure for Mana Martinez in this weekend’s fight. He feels his body of work stands up regardless of what he does, plus he has faith in what comes next as well.
“Not one bit, to be honest,” he said. “I try to look past all the technical numbers, I guess you could say, and go in there and do what I know how to do best – and that’s fight at the end of the day.”
In order to keep things rolling the way he wants, he’ll have to deal with a hot prospect. Cameron Saaiman enters the fight with loads of hype. The 22-year old South African prospect is coming off of back-to-back knockouts on Contender Series and then subsequently in his UFC debut.
However, Martinez is ready to show that Saaiman isn’t the only one with knockout power and is ready to show what he’s been doing in the gym as well.
“Obviously [it ends] with me getting my hand raised, but I can definitely see me finishing this kid,” Martinez said. “The knockout I’ve been looking for. These past three decisions I feel like don’t quite define the fighter that I am and I’m growing and evolving every day.”
Martinez’s fight with Cameron Saaiman takes place on the UFC 285 prelims this Saturday on ESPN+.
You can hear the entire interview with Mana Martinez below at 33:02.
