Venue Location
Arena CDMX (formerly Palacio de los Deportes), Mexico City, Mexico. This iconic indoor arena in central Mexico City sits at high altitude (~7,350 ft / 2,240 m), which can significantly affect cardio and pacing—favoring fighters with efficient energy management, strong grappling, or measured striking over relentless high-volume styles. The Octagon is set for prime visibility, and with a passionate local crowd (plus Martinez’s Mexican heritage), expect massive home support for the co-main event.
Ringwlaks are scheduled for
- Prelims: 5:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM CST (Paramount+)
- Main Card: 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CST (Paramount+)
The Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez bantamweight co-main event is the penultimate fight on the main card (fight 12 of 13). Expected walkouts around 10:00–10:30 PM ET, depending on prior bout durations. Full event runs 4–6 hours.
Injury Report
No reported injuries or withdrawals for either fighter as of February 23–24, 2026.
- Marlon Vera (“Chito”) is fully cleared and healthy following his recent form; no lingering issues from past camps.
- David Martinez (“Black Spartan” / “Doctor”) shows no acute concerns; his recent activity and preparation for altitude/home crowd appear solid. UFC has monitored regional unrest (unrelated to Mexico City) but confirmed safety for the event. Both fighters have focused on high-altitude training.
Fighter Matchups / Tale of the Tape
Marlon Vera (“Chito”) vs. David Martinez (“Black Spartan”) – Bantamweight (135 lbs) – 3 Rounds (Co-Main Event)
- Vera: 33 years old (born December 2, 1992), 23-11-1 pro (UFC: long tenure), 5’8″ (173 cm), 69–71″ reach, switch stance, Guayaquil, Ecuador / USA (trainer with top camps). Veteran striker with power (multiple KO wins), excellent chin, grappling threats, and experience vs. elites.
- Martinez: 27 years old (born August 3, 1998), 13-1-0 pro (UFC: rising, recent wins), 5’5″ (165 cm), reach ~67–68″ (shorter), orthodox, Mexico (Bonebreakers MMA). Power puncher (10 KO/TKO wins, 77% of victories), explosive early finisher, solid durability, but tested against veterans.
Style Breakdown: Vera brings veteran savvy, switch-stance versatility, counter-striking, and late-round durability (strong in decisions/grinds). Martinez is a heavy-handed KO artist (high finish rate) with forward pressure and power, but shorter reach and less Octagon experience vs. top-tier foes. Vera holds edges in reach, experience, and adaptability; Martinez’s power and home-crowd energy could create early danger. Altitude may test both, but Vera’s proven 3-round pacing gives him an advantage.
Recent Form
- Vera (23-11-1, recent mixed results): Fixture in top-15 bantamweight (ranked ~#8–#9). Recent: competitive but losses to elites (e.g., potential setbacks); strong wins over ranked foes via power/KO. Decade+ in UFC with elite chin and heart—selective but dangerous when engaged. Motivated for Mexico City return.
- Martinez (13-1, 9-fight win streak): Red-hot riser (ranked ~#10). Recent: upset win over Rob Font (unanimous decision, outworked veteran in co-main at Noche UFC, September 2025); prior KO/TKO over Saimon Oliveira (R1 knee, March 2025). Explosive regional/DWCS background transitioning to UFC dominance—power and confidence peaking.
Fight History / Key Notes
No prior head-to-head. Vera is a bantamweight stalwart (multiple top-10 wins, wars with Sandhagen, Font, etc.); excels in chaotic exchanges and durability. Martinez (fast riser post-DWCS) has 10 KOs in 13 wins, showing finishing instinct but faces biggest test vs. Vera’s experience. Co-main in Mexico City gives Martinez huge home boost (Mexican fighter vs. Ecuadorian vet); Vera thrives under pressure. Expect striking battle—Martinez pushes early power, Vera counters and grinds if it goes long.
FIGHT ODDS
Marlon Vera + 200
David Martinez – 275
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
