Martin Nguyen
Australian mixed martial arts fighter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin Nguyen (born 5 March 1989) is an Australian former mixed martial artist, who competed in the featherweight division. A professional from 2012 till 2025. Nguyen is most notable for his stint in ONE Championship, where he was the former ONE Featherweight and ONE Lightweight World Champion, and was the first two-division champion in ONE's history, having held both belts simultaneously.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| Martin Nguyen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 1989 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other names | The Situ-Asian |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight Lightweight |
| Reach | 69.7 in (177 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Deerfield Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Team | Kill Cliff FC[1] |
| Years active | 2012–2025 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 23 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 10 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Early life and education
Nguyen was born on 5 March 1989, in Sydney, to Vietnamese parents. Attending Ashcroft Primary School and Liverpool Boys High School, Martin played representative rugby league but after suffering constant injuries, decided he was better off away from the game. Nguyen then picked up martial arts at the age of 21, initially just to help lose weight and to find a new hobby, but soon realised he had a natural talent for it.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
ONE Championship
In the promotional debut, Nguyen faced Rocky Batolbatol on 7 November 2014, at ONE FC: Battle of Lions. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[3]
Nguyen was scheduled to face Bashir Ahmad on 27 September 2015, at ONE: Odyssey of Champions.[4] However, Nguyen was instead to face Marat Gafurov for the interim ONE Featherweight World Championship.[5] He lost the bout via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[6]
Nguyen faced Edward Kelly on 13 November 2015, at ONE: Pride of Lions. He won the fight via a doctor stoppage technical knockout in the first round.[7]
Nguyen faced Li Kai Wen on 15 April 2016, at ONE: Global Rivals.[8] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[9]
Nguyen faced Christian Lee on 13 August 2016, at ONE: Heroes of the World. He won the fight via a guillotine choke technical submission in the first round.[10]
Nguyen faced Kazunori Yokota on 14 January 2017, at ONE: Quest for Power. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[11]
Two-division champion
Nguyen faced Marat Gafurov for the ONE Featherweight World Championship on 18 August 2017, at ONE: Quest for Greatness.[12] He won the bout and title via knockout in the second round.[13]
Nguyen faced Eduard Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship on 10 November 2017, at ONE: Legends of the World.[14] He won the bout via knockout in the second round, making him the first simultaneous two-division champion in ONE history.[15]
Nguyen faced Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship on 24 March 2018, at ONE: Iron Will.[16] He lost the bout via split decision.[17]
In his first title defense, Nguyen faced Christian Lee on 18 May 2018, at ONE: Unstoppable Dreams.[18] He won the bout via split decision.[19]
Nguyen faced Kevin Belingon for the interim ONE Bantamweight World Championship on 27 July 2018, at ONE: Reign of Kings.[20] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[21]
On 28 September 2018, it was announced that Nguyen vacated the ONE Lightweight World Championship due to suffering an injury in training, rendering him unable to defend the title.[22]
In the second title defense, Nguyen faced Jadamba Narantungalag on 12 April 2019, at ONE: Roots of Honor.[23] He won the bout via a flying knee knockout in the second round.[24]
In the third title defense, Nguyen faced Koyomi Matsushima on 2 August 2019, at ONE: Dawn of Heroes.[25] He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.[26]
Nguyen defense the title against Thanh Le on 30 October 2020, at ONE: Inside the Matrix.[27] He lost the bout and title via technical knockout in the third round.[28]
Post-championship reign
Nguyen was scheduled to face Kim Jae-woong on 7 April 2021 and aired on 14 April 2021, at ONE on TNT 2.[29] However, Nguyen was forced to withdraw due to not being cleared to compete with respect to health and safety protocols.[30] The pair was rescheduled for ONE: Revolution on 24 September 2021.[31] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[32]
Nguyen faced Kirill Gorobets on 11 March 2022, at ONE: Lights Out.[33] He won the fight via technical knockout in the third round.[34]
Nguyen faced Ilya Freymanov on 1 October 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 2.[35] He lost the fight via TKO (submission to knees) in the first round.[36]
Nguyen was scheduled to face Shamil Gasanov on 25 February 2023, at ONE Fight Night 7.[37] However, Gasanov was forced to withdraw due to an infection that stemmed from an injury.[38] He was replaced by Razhab Shaydullaev.[39] In turn, Shaydullaev was forced to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Leonardo Casotti.[40] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[41]
Nguyen faced Garry Tonon on 28 January 2024, at ONE 165.[42] He lost the fight by rear-naked submission in the first round.[43]
The match between Nguyen and Gasanov will be reschedule on 20 February 2025, at ONE 171.[44] Nguyen lost the bout via unanimous decision and announced his retirement from competition after the bout.[45]
Personal life
Martin is married to Brooke Nguyen, and the couple have three children together, Kai, Tiarna, and Madison.[2] In post-retirement, Nguyen enjoys playing Oztag recreationally.[citation needed]
Championships and accomplishments
- ONE Championship
- ONE Featherweight World Championship (One time)
- Three successful title defenses
- ONE Lightweight World Championship (One time)
- First double champion in ONE history
- ONE Featherweight World Championship (One time)
- BRACE
- Brace Featherweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 23 matches | 15 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 3 |
| By submission | 3 | 2 |
| By decision | 2 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 15–8 | Shamil Gasanov | Decision (unanimous) | ONE 171 | 20 February 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Lusail, Qatar | |
| Loss | 15–7 | Garry Tonon | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE 165 | 28 January 2024 | 1 | 4:41 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 15–6 | Leonardo Casotti | Decision (unanimous) | ONE Fight Night 7 | 25 February 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Loss | 14–6 | Ilya Freymanov | TKO (submission to knees) | ONE on Prime Video 2 | 1 October 2022 | 1 | 3:33 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 14–5 | Kirill Gorobets | TKO (punches) | ONE: Lights Out | 11 March 2022 | 3 | 2:18 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 13–5 | Kim Jae-woong | KO (punches) | ONE: Revolution | 24 September 2021 | 1 | 3:15 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Thanh Le | TKO (punches) | ONE: Inside the Martix | 30 October 2020 | 3 | 2:19 | Kallang, Singapore | Lost the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Win | 13–3 | Koyomi Matsushima | TKO (punches) | ONE: Dawn of Heroes | 2 August 2019 | 2 | 4:40 | Pasay, Philippines | Defended the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). Broke the record for the most consecutive ONE Featherweight title defenses (3). |
| Win | 12–3 | Jadamba Narantungalag | KO (flying knee) | ONE: Roots of Honor | 12 April 2019 | 2 | 1:07 | Pasay, Philippines | Defended the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Loss | 11–3 | Kevin Belingon | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Reign of Kings | 27 July 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Pasay, Philippines | For the interim ONE Bantamweight Championship (145 lb). |
| Win | 11–2 | Christian Lee | Decision (split) | ONE: Unstoppable Dreams | 18 May 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | Defended the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Loss | 10–2 | Bibiano Fernandes | Decision (split) | ONE: Iron Will | 24 March 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Bangkok, Thailand | For the ONE Bantamweight Championship (145 lb). |
| Win | 10–1 | Eduard Folayang | KO (punch) | ONE: Legends of the World | 10 November 2017 | 2 | 2:20 | Pasay, Philippines | Won the ONE Lightweight Championship. Nguyen vacated the title on 28 September 2018 due to injury. |
| Win | 9–1 | Marat Gafurov | KO (punch) | ONE: Quest for Greatness | 18 August 2017 | 2 | 1:27 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Won the ONE Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Kazunori Yokota | KO (punches) | ONE: Quest for Power | 14 January 2017 | 1 | 3:36 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Win | 7–1 | Christian Lee | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | ONE: Heroes of the World | 13 August 2016 | 1 | 4:30 | Macau, SAR, China | |
| Win | 6–1 | Li Kai Wen | TKO (punches) | ONE: Global Rivals | 15 April 2016 | 1 | 4:44 | Pasay, Philippines | |
| Win | 5–1 | Edward Kelly | TKO (doctor stoppage) | ONE: Pride of Lions | 13 November 2015 | 1 | 4:17 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Marat Gafurov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Odyssey of Champions | 27 September 2015 | 1 | 0:41 | Jakarta, Indonesia | For the interim ONE Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Rocky Batolbatol | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE FC: Battle of the Lions | 7 November 2014 | 2 | 2:10 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 3–0 | Luke Standing | TKO (punches) | BRACE 24 | 29 November 2013 | 1 | 3:30 | Canberra, Australia | Won the vacant Brace Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Thomas Ruderman | TKO (punches) | BRACE 18 | 21 December 2012 | 2 | N/A | Canberra, Australia | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Richard Kemp-Hay | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Conquest 1 | 28 July 2012 | 3 | 1:39 | Nowra, Australia | Lightweight debut. |