WBO "junior bantamweight" (aka super flyweight) title eliminator. Palicte is currently ranked #2 by the WBO, and Martínez is close behind at #4. Both will be hungry to punch their proverbial ticket for a crack @ WBO champ Donnie "Ahas" Nietes (again, in Palicte's case), but also to force a conclusive outcome for another reason. Neither of these men wants to be part of another draw or split decision of any kind anytime soon. Palicte has experienced a "hung jury" thrice in as many years - going 1-1 in a pair of 10-rounders and most recently drawing in a challenge of the aforementioned Nietes. Many observers have commented that Palicte may have even outperformed Japanese legend Kazuto Ioka (who lost to Nietes in December) and staked a better claim at having perhaps deserved - if narrowly - to dethrone him. Martínez is no stranger to bitterly close points affairs, coming off a 10 rounds split draw with Agustín "El Peque" Alexandro Santiago Barrios. This was a rematch of an 8-rounder in 2016...which ended in a majority draw. El Peque, incidentally, has since challenged Palicte's countryman Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF title - and they fought to a ...split draw. This event is a Roy Jones & Miguel Cotto Promotions joint venture and will air on UFC Fight Pass. I'll post details if any other broadcast options come to light.
I don't subscribe to UFC Fight Pass and don't plan on it, so really hoping there ends up being some alternative. This could be VERY fun...
Martinez got 2 gift draws against Alexandro Santiago Barrios, Nietes got a gift draw against Palicte. That says it all right there. Palicte by domination and late stoppage.
