Deputy Sports Editor

Brian Martin

Brian Martin is a deputy sports editor for the Southern California News Group and writes about mixed martial arts. He began working at the L.A. Daily News as a news editor in 2004. Before that, he was with the Glendale News-Press and Times Community News as a sportswriter, sports editor, news editor and managing editor. He joined the Daily News sports department as deputy sports editor in 2009. He began covering MMA with a 2011 story on future UFC superstar Ronda Rousey, which was awarded second place for Best Story in the California Newspaper Publishers Association's Better Newspapers Contest.

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

After much verbal sparring, the featherweight champion and the local challenger go at it Saturday as one of three title fights at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

Boxing/MMA |
Cris Cyborg vs. Cat Zingano at Bellator 300 has been a long time coming

October 5, 2023 at 5:40 p.m.

After much verbal sparring, the featherweight champion and the local challenger go at it Saturday as one of three title fights at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

The Whittier native, fully recovered after his shoulder injury a year ago, feels better than ever going into Saturday's co-main event in Dublin, Ireland.

Boxing/MMA |
Bellator 299: Aaron Pico’s title quest continues versus Pedro Carvalho

September 28, 2023 at 11:07 p.m.

The Whittier native, fully recovered after his shoulder injury a year ago, feels better than ever going into Saturday's co-main event in Dublin, Ireland.

Ryan Bader, Cris Cyborg, Usman Nurmagomedov and Liz Carmouche will put their belts on the line in the biggest card in the MMA promotion’s 14-year history.

Boxing/MMA |
Bellator 300, with 4 title fights, set for Oct. 7 in San Diego

August 9, 2023 at 2:58 p.m.

Ryan Bader, Cris Cyborg, Usman Nurmagomedov and Liz Carmouche will put their belts on the line in the biggest card in the MMA promotion’s 14-year history.

The undefeated Covina native, with her comeback soon to be an HBO documentary, takes on former strawweight champ Jessica Andrade in Saturday’s co-main event.

Boxing/MMA |
Tatiana Suarez continues UFC climb with a former champion in her way

August 4, 2023 at 5:49 p.m.

The undefeated Covina native, with her comeback soon to be an HBO documentary, takes on former strawweight champ Jessica Andrade in Saturday’s co-main event.

After 21 UFC fights apiece, the Southern California fan favorites and lightweight veterans will finally square off on the main card Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Boxing/MMA |
UFC 291: Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green is a fight for the people

July 29, 2023 at 3:26 a.m.

After 21 UFC fights apiece, the Southern California fan favorites and lightweight veterans will finally square off on the main card Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Adam and Simon Yates ride for different teams, but Adam takes the yellow jersey to start cycling's biggest race.

Tour de France: Adam Yates pulls away from twin brother to win first stage

July 2, 2023 at 2:03 a.m.

Adam and Simon Yates ride for different teams, but Adam takes the yellow jersey to start cycling's biggest race.

The Placentia lightweight brings an eight-fight winning streak, with a title shot on the line, against the former champion in Saturday’s co-main event.

Boxing/MMA |
UFC 289: Beneil Dariush can’t stop thinking about Charles Oliveira

June 8, 2023 at 9:12 p.m.

The Placentia lightweight brings an eight-fight winning streak, with a title shot on the line, against the former champion in Saturday’s co-main event.

The former featherweight champion from Long Beach faces the former lightweight champ in a Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal at Bellator MMA X Rizin 2.

Boxing/MMA |
Bellator star AJ McKee faces Patricky Pitbull on July 30 in Tokyo

May 27, 2023 at 1:46 a.m.

The former featherweight champion from Long Beach faces the former lightweight champ in a Lightweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal at Bellator MMA X Rizin 2.

The featherweight earns the unanimous decision and appears next in line for a shot at champion Cris Cyborg after a well-fought co-main event in Temecula.

Boxing/MMA |
Cat Zingano wins No. 1 contender scrap over Leah McCourt at Bellator 293

April 1, 2023 at 8:27 a.m.

The featherweight earns the unanimous decision and appears next in line for a shot at champion Cris Cyborg after a well-fought co-main event in Temecula.

In his first fight in 28 months, the heavily favored Compton welterweight drops a lackluster split decision to Jeff Creighton in Temecula.

Boxing/MMA |
Joey Davis suffers first loss in Bellator 293 comeback

March 31, 2023 at 10:41 p.m.

In his first fight in 28 months, the heavily favored Compton welterweight drops a lackluster split decision to Jeff Creighton in Temecula.