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Poppies Martinez (born August 19, 1983) is a Native American professional mixed martial artist of the Tachi Yokuts tribe currently competing in the Lightweight division of Bellator. A professional competitor since 2003, he has also formerly competed for the California-based promotions, the WEC, Palace Fighting Championship, and Tachi Palace Fights.
| Poppies Martinez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Juvencio Poppies Martinez August 19, 1983[1] Lemoore, California, United States |
| Other names | The Tachi Kid |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight (145 lb) Lightweight (155 lb) Welterweight (170 lb) |
| Reach | 64 in (163 cm)[2] |
| Fighting out of | Lemoore, California, United States |
| Team | Thrive MMA |
| Rank | Black belt in Kenpo Karate[3] |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 3 |
| Wins | 3 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 41 |
| Wins | 29 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 18 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 11 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 7 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Boxing record from BoxRec | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Born and raised in Lemoore, California, Martinez competed in wrestling at Lemoore High School.[4] Martinez has also trained in Kenpo Karate and holds a black belt.[3]
Early career: World Extreme Cagefighting
Martinez began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 19 and made his professional debut in 2003 for the WEC. Martinez fought exclusively for the promotion until 2006.
Palace Fighting Championship and Tachi Palace Fights
From 2007 to 2014, Martinez fought mainly for Palace Fighting Championship, and after the organization's end, Tachi Palace Fights. Both organizations held most of their events in Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino at Martinez's hometown in Lemoore, California.[5]
Martinez fought for the PFC Lightweight Championship on March 22, 2007, at PFC 2 against Shad Smith. He lost via submission due to a guillotine choke in the third round.
Martinez was scheduled to rematch Shad Smith on October 18, 2007, at PFC 4 for the PFC Lightweight Championship. However, Smith was forced to pull out of the bout after being medically suspended by CSAC. Martinez was rescheduled to face Brandon Jinnies at the same event for the PFC Interim Lightweight Championship.[6] He won via TKO early in the first round and became the PFC interim lightweight title holder.
Once again, Martinez fought for the PFC Lightweight Championship on January 17, 2008, at PFC 6 against Diego Saraiva and was defeated via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[7]
Martinez faced David Mitchell on July 9, 2010, at TPF 5: Stars and Strikes for the welterweight title. He lost via technical submission due to a triangle choke early in the first round.[8]
Martinez faced Christos Giagos on August 22, 2013, at TPF 16: The Return for the vacant TPF Lightweight Championship. Martinez defeated Giagos via submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round and became the new Lightweight Champion.[9]
Martinez also faced Chris Culley on February 6, 2014, at TPF 18: Martinez vs. Culley for the vacant TPF Featherweight Championship. He won via submission due to an anaconda choke in the first round and became the only fighter to hold two TPF belts simultaneously.[10]
Bellator MMA
Martinez made his promotional debut on October 4, 2013, at Bellator 102 against Brandon Girtz. He lost via submission due to an armbar early in the first round.[11]
Martinez next faced Josh Smith on April 11, 2014, at Bellator 116. He won via submission due to a guillotine choke at 3:50 of round one.[12]
In his third fight within the promotion, Martinez faced Bubba Jenkins at Bellator 122 on July 25, 2014.[13] He lost the fight via first-round TKO.
Martinez faced Julio Cesar Neves on September 19, 2014, at Bellator 125.[14] He lost via TKO in the first round.
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Martinez, who is married, has eight children and his brother, Andrew "Mickey" Martinez, is also a professional mixed martial artist who has competed for Tachi Palace Fights. Mickey competes in the Heavyweight division.[15][4]
Mixed martial arts
- Tachi Palace Fights
- TPF Lightweight Championship (One time; current)[9]
- TPF Featherweight Championship (One time; current)[10]
- Palace Fighting Championship
- PFC Interim Lightweight Championship (One time)[6]
| 41 matches | 29 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 4 |
| By submission | 18 | 7 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 29–11 (1) | Julio Cesar Neves | TKO (punches) | Bellator 125 | September 19, 2014 | 1 | 2:16 | Fresno, California, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 29–10 (1) | Bubba Jenkins | TKO (punches) | Bellator 122 | July 25, 2014 | 1 | 4:10 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Win | 29–9 (1) | Josh Smith | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 116 | April 11, 2014 | 1 | 3:50 | Temecula, California, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 28–9 (1) | Chris Culley | Submission (anaconda choke) | Tachi Palace Fights 18: Martinez vs. Culley | February 6, 2014 | 1 | 3:31 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won vacant TPF Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 27–9 (1) | Brandon Girtz | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 102 | October 4, 2013 | 1 | 1:20 | Visalia, California, United States | |
| Win | 27–8 (1) | Christos Giagos | Submission (guillotine choke) | Tachi Palace Fights 16: The Return | August 22, 2013 | 1 | 4:27 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won vacant TPF Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 26–8 (1) | John Bond | Submission | Gladiator Challenge: Battleground | March 24, 2013 | 1 | 1:10 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 25–8 (1) | Aaron King | Submission (neck crank) | Gladiator Challenge: Super Fight Night | February 1, 2013 | 1 | 0:51 | Lincoln, California, United States | |
| Win | 24–8 (1) | Fernando Bernstein | Decision (unanimous) | Tachi Palace Fights 15: Collision Course | November 15, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 23–8 (1) | Mike Ryan | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Heat Returns | October 28, 2012 | 1 | 1:46 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 22–8 (1) | Alec Borilia | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge | September 29, 2012 | 1 | 0:50 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Win | 21–8 (1) | Jason Drake | Submission (heel hook) | Tachi Palace Fights 14: Validation | September 7, 2012 | 1 | 1:48 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 20–8 (1) | Raymond Doxie | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Gladiator Challenge: World Class | June 23, 2012 | 2 | 1:53 | Lincoln, California, United States | |
| Loss | 19–8 (1) | Tony Llamas | Submission (guillotine choke) | Tachi Palace Fights 13: Unfinished Business | May 10, 2012 | 1 | 1:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 19–7 (1) | David Mitchell | Technical submission (triangle choke) | TPF 5: Stars and Strikes | July 9, 2010 | 1 | 1:32 | Lemoore, California, United States | For TPF Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–6 (1) | Darren Crisp | Submission (armbar) | TPF 4: Cinco de Mayhem | May 5, 2010 | 1 | 2:46 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 18–6 (1) | Daniel Romero | Submission (armbar) | Gladiator Challenge: Chain Reaction | December 12, 2009 | 1 | 2:59 | Placerville, California, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 (1) | Sergio Salcido | Submission (guillotine choke) | TPF 1: Tachi Palace Fights 1 | October 8, 2009 | 2 | 3:21 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 17–5 (1) | Tony Llamas | Submission (armbar) | PFC 11: All In | November 20, 2008 | 1 | 1:51 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 16–5 (1) | Sergio Cortez | Decision (unanimous) | PFC 10: Explosive | September 26, 2008 | 3 | 3:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 15–5 (1) | Sergio Cortez | TKO (injury) | PFC 8: A Night of Champions | April 26, 2008 | 1 | 2:57 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 (1) | Jarod Saenz | Submission (guillotine choke) | PFC 7.5: New Blood | April 26, 2008 | 1 | 0:31 | Porterville, California, United States | |
| Loss | 14–4 (1) | Diego Saraiva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFC 6: No Retreat, No Surrender | January 17, 2008 | 1 | 2:08 | Lemoore, California, United States | For PFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–3 (1) | Billy Terry | Submission (kimura) | Independent Event | December 6, 2007 | 1 | 2:35 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 (1) | Aaron Maldonado | Submission (guillotine choke) | PFC 5: Beatdown at 4 Bears | November 10, 2007 | 1 | 1:22 | New Town, North Dakota, United States | Non-title bout.[16][17] |
| Win | 12–3 (1) | Brandon Jinnies | TKO (punches) | PFC 4: Project Complete | October 18, 2007 | 1 | 1:23 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won PFC Interim Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–3 (1) | Billy Terry | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Primal MMA: The Next Level | August 11, 2007 | 1 | 2:00 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| Loss | 10–3 (1) | Shad Smith | Submission (guillotine choke) | PFC 2: Fast and Furious | March 22, 2007 | 3 | 1:10 | Lemoore, California, United States | For PFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–2 (1) | Josh Gardner | Decision (unanimous) | PFC 1: King of the Ring | January 18, 2007 | 3 | 3:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 (1) | Robert Breslin | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 24: Full Force | October 12, 2006 | 1 | 0:52 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 (1) | Gigo Jara | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WEC 23: Hot August Fights | August 17, 2006 | 2 | 3:52 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 (1) | Troy Miller | Submission (armbar) | WEC 22: The Hitmen | July 28, 2006 | 1 | 0:50 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 (1) | Cory Cass | Submission (armbar) | WEC 20: Cinco de Mayhem | May 5, 2006 | 1 | 0:47 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| NC | 6–1 (1) | Robert Breslin | No contest (groin strike) | WEC 17: Halloween Fury 4 | October 14, 2005 | 1 | 0:23 | Lemoore, California, United States | Breslin accidentally kicked Martinez in the groin at 0:23 of round one.[18] |
| Loss | 6–1 | Cole Escovedo | TKO (leg injury) | WEC 15: Judgment Day | May 19, 2005 | 2 | 1:05 | Lemoore, California, United States | For Tachi Palace Native American Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Joe Martin | TKO (punches) | WEC 12: Halloween Fury 3 | October 21, 2004 | 2 | 4:41 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Gabriel Cruz | Submission (punches) | WEC 10: Bragging Rights | May 21, 2004 | 1 | 0:30 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Eric Ramirez | TKO (punches) | WEC 9: Cold Blooded | January 16, 2004 | 1 | 3:15 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | A.J. Wieman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WEC 8: Halloween Fury 2 | October 17, 2003 | 1 | 2:01 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Johnny Fadella | TKO (knees) | WEC 7: This Time It's Personal | August 9, 2003 | 1 | 0:51 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Erick Husbands | KO (punches) | WEC 6: Return of a Legend | March 27, 2003 | 1 | 0:10 | Lemoore, California, United States |
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| 3 Wins (1 knockout, 2 decisions), 0 Losses, 0 Draws | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Win | 3–0 |  Jovanni Rubio |
UD | 4 | 2009-03-21 | Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States |
|
| Win | 2–0 | Yonas Gebreegziabher |
MD | 4 | 2009-02-06 | Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, United States |
|
| Win | 1–0 | Ben Witthar |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:32 | 2008-10-23 | Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, United States |
|
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