Doctor‑Fighter David Martinez: From Surgery to Octagon

David Martinez will fight Marlon Vera on Saturday night at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The 27‑year‑old Mexican athlete faces a tough test, but many questions linger about his life outside the cage. He was born in Ecatepec de Morelos and now lives in Mexico City, training with Bonebreakers. His entry into combat sports was simple: “I liked to fight. ” He probably follows the country’s main faith, Catholicism. What really surprises people is that he also works as an orthopedic surgeon. He starts his day early at the hospital, sometimes staying late for surgeries or patient visits. Balancing medicine and fighting is hard. He has paused his medical career to focus on MMA, believing the sport offers a shorter window of opportunity. He said he stopped medicine “to put all my time in this chance. ”He plans to return to medicine after fighting, becoming a physician inside the UFC. Martinez began his fight career in 2016 at Xtreme Kombat, later winning the bantamweight title twice at Combate Global. In 2024 he appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series, defeating Xavier Franklin by unanimous decision to earn a UFC contract. Since then he has faced Saimon Oliveira and Rob Font, winning both fights by first‑round knockout and submission. His record now stands at 13 wins and one loss, with a nine‑fight winning streak. He earned a Performance of the Night bonus at UFC Mexico City in March 2025.