Joseph Anthony Martinez (born April 10, 1975) is an American ring announcer known for having worked with Mixed Martial Arts promotions Invicta FC, and the UFC.
Joe A. Martinez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts, communication |
| Alma mater | California State University, Fullerton |
| Occupation | Ring/sports announcer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Employer | JL Exclusive LLC |
| Spouse | Lena |
Career
editA Communications graduate of California State University, Fullerton,[1] Martinez began his professional career in 1996 as both the public address announcer for the Lake Elsinore Storm Minor League Baseball team (a San Diego Padres affiliate) and various Cal State Fullerton athletic programs.After retiring from the Storm and Cal State Fullerton in 2017, he relocated from Orange County, CA to North Georgia.
Martinez has been the main ring announcer for Golden Boy Boxing since 2011 and has also been an occasional Octagon announcer for UFC since 2007, carrying over from the now merged World Extreme Cagefighting and has announced over 100 events under the Zuffa banner. More recently, he was signed by the Professional Fighters League PFL in 2018 to handle MC duties for the organization's inaugural season. Martinez took over the ring announcing duties for the GGG vs. Canelo Alvarez pay per view on HBO in September 2018.
In 2018, Martinez was twice hired as ring announcer for the DirecTV MMA drama “Kingdom”. He also headed up cage announcing duties for “Wars End” when Golden Boy Promotions promoted Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz to fight for a third and final time in a cage.
Martinez was twice featured on Sony PlayStation's MLB The Show videogame in 2006 and 2007. He has also been on two episodes of Kingdom a television drama on Audience Network and appeared in an AMP Energy Drink commercial. He twice toured with the Harlem Globetrotters as their announcer as well as the US Olympic softball team en route to the Australia Summer Olympics in 2000.
Martinez is married and has four children. He is a Christian minister and co-founder of Anchor of Hope Ministries while also a congregate of the Rock Church (Anaheim, CA).
Baseball, softball and basketball
editIn 1996, Martinez began his career as a public address announcer for the Lake Elsinore Storm, a Minor League team affiliate of the San Diego Padres. He announced the Women's College World Series in 1998 and a U.S. Olympic Softball Team tour in 2000. From 2001 to 2002, he worked for The Harlem Globetrotters.[2]
Boxing
editMartinez became the featured ring announcer for Oscar De La Hoya's, Fox reality television series "The Next Great Champ" in 2004. In 2006 he began announcing for Guilty Boxing Promotions on ESPN Deportes. Now he can be seen announcing for Golden Boy Promotions and other promotions on various networks around the world.[3]
Mixed martial arts
editMartinez was the exclusive cage announcer for World Extreme Cagefighting from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, WEC was merged into UFC by parent company Zuffa, LLC. Since then, he has worked with Cage Warriors Fighting Championship, announcing fights across the globe.[2]
Martinez is the ring announcer for Invicta FC, and the UFC, including being the cage announcer for UFC 267, where he replaced Bruce Buffer.
On April 27, 2024, he was reportedly ill, and was replaced by Charly Arnolt, making her the first female UFC ring announcer.[4]
Other appearances
editSony PlayStation MLB 06, MLB 07, "King of the Diamond" - In-game Public Address Announcer (2006) (2007).[5]
References
edit- ^ Heldreth, David (September 24, 2007). "Q&A: Joe Martinez". Desert Dispatch. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ a b Shaxted, Daryn (August 22, 2011). "Cage Warriors Sign Veteran US Ring Announcer Joe Martinez". MMA Pundit. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ Rizzo, Joe (May 17, 2010). "WEC parts ways with cage announcer Joe Martinez". MMADieHards. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ "Charly Arnolt becomes first female UFC ring announcer after temporarily replacing Joe Martinez". MMA Figthting.com. April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "MLB 06 and 07: The Show credits: Joe Martinez, P.A. Announcer - King of the Diamond". Retrieved July 28, 2012.