Jonathan Martinez surprised Sean O’Malley became UFC champion, sees ‘Chito’ Vera stopping him in rematch

Jonathan Martinez never anticipated that Sean O’Malley would become the reigning champion of their division.

The up-and-coming contender in the UFC bantamweight division never expected O’Malley to claim the title in one of the most challenging divisions in the organization. Nonetheless, “Suga” surprised many by defeating the dominant Aljamain Sterling in the main event of UFC 292 in August.

Martinez believes this outcome exemplifies the unpredictability of the sport.

“This sport is incredibly tough, especially with the small gloves we wear. Anything can happen,” Martinez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “One bad strike or a momentary lapse in defense, and it’s over. The other guy becomes the champion. It’s like a cockfight. The one who strikes first usually wins. O’Malley’s championship status caught me off guard. I was like, ‘Oh, wow.'”

Martinez, currently on a six-fight win streak that includes victories over Adrian Yanez and Cub Swanson, believes O’Malley is at risk of losing his title, especially if the rumored rematch with Ecuador’s Marlon Vera materializes.

“I think Vera would win in a rematch,” Martinez said. “I’ve never seen O’Malley fight five rounds, but I see a lot of heart in Vera. As the fight goes on, he gets better and better. I believe he could secure a stoppage victory in the fourth round.”

Martinez, known for his expertise in leg kicks and one of only two fighters in UFC history to win via leg kicks, believes O’Malley is vulnerable to that type of attack, as evident from their first encounter.

“He’s quite tall for the division, which means there’s less body to hit, and he has to cut a lot of weight,” Martinez explained. “With some well-placed kicks, the fight can be stopped.”

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie