Roque Martinez preparing for 3rd UFC fight

UFC Heavyweight fighter Roque Martinez is in training camp preparing for his 3rd fight with the organization. Martinez is 0-2 in the octagon with losses coming from Alexandr Romanov via second round submission and a decision loss to Don'Tale Mayes.  

Martinez told KUAM Sports, "For me, I look back and I think my last two UFC fights I kind of went in there with a little bit too much respect for my opponents. I felt like I played it safe and that's not how I fight like that. This one I'm really looking forward to just going back to my old school style and just bring out that real fighter and just fight. That's what I truly believe is at the end of the day it's just a fight. I know these heavyweights  in the UFC, they're monsters and all my opponents are big guys but I'm just going to go back and bring that old school fight mentality and let my hands go."

Roque has 24 professional fights under his belt with a current record of 15-7-2. There's a lot riding on this fight with the UFC making several cuts to their roster. His opponent this time around is a striker who might stand toe to toe with the champ and exchange punches.

Martinez added, "My opponent is Josh Peresian and he's a Contender Series winner and that's how he got his way into the UFC. His last fight was a really good fight and I believe they have the Fight of the Night. He also set the record for heavyweight strikes in a fight. So I think for me it's a really good matchup because if he comes out and does what he did in his last fight it kind of plays into my game. I think I just need to go back to my brawling style and throw my hands and let my hands go. I'm just really hoping he comes out and he's down to do that."

Martinez has fought some well known strikers in the game. He beat out Kickboxing World Champion Jerome Le Banner and lost via doctor stoppage to Mirko Cro Cop.

"I think that's kind of what's helped me go as far as I have today. My ability to take a punch. At the same time I think I'm a little bit smarter about that, I try and cover up more. But man I'm not one to shy away from it. Usually if I get hit with a pretty good shot it turns me into that fight out style," he said.