WICHITA, Kan. – Anthony Rocco Martin reinvigorated attitude carried him to much success in 2018 and he hopes that will continue this year starting at UFC on ESPN+ 4.

Martin (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) was a mid-tier lightweight in the UFC before moving up to welterweight and going on a three-fight run of victories that’s carried him into Saturday’s matchup with Sergio Moraes (14-3-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC).

There’s been an evolution to Martin, from his name to his approach to fighting to his entire mental headspace. It’s worked for him so far, and he said he continues to embrace it.

“I think it’s just more of me being myself,” Martin told MMAjunkie. “At the end of the day I just feel comfortable with who I am now as a fighter and what I can bring to the table. I truly believe that this is my time and I believe that I can really make a push here.”

Martin’s ability to find comfort within himself was aided by his parter, two time Olympic gold medalist and PFL fighter Kayla Harrison, who Martin said has encouraged him become the version of himself that exists today.

“I think that she’s been a huge part of my success,” Martin said. “Mentally, just seeing her true belief in me and she was also a big part of the name change. She loved the Rocco. And she’s like, ‘How you’ve been going this long without using Rocco when it’s your real middle name’ is beyond her. We brought it out and so far it’s been great. My personal life is phenomenal right now and really we just push each other every day to be better and we’re super competitive.”

UFC on ESPN+ 4 takes place INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

After consecutive finishes of Jake Matthews and Ryan LaFlare, Martin said he was looking for a top-15 ranked opponent at 170 pounds. He didn’t quite get that, but Moraes is a more than respectable foe who lost just once in his past 10 UFC appearances.

“I wanted someone with a number by their name, that was the big part of it,” Martin said. “He’s a phenomenal fighter, definitely top 20 in the world. Definitely top 20 in the UFC and he poses some threats to any fighter. I think it’s a big step up in competition even though I feel like the last two fights have been stiff competition. This is a fight where I think I’m better everywhere.”

Coming off the most significant year of his career, Martin has big plans for the future, as well. He wants a co-headlining spot on the UFC on ESPN 4 card on June 29 in Minneapolis, Miss., where he has local ties. He thinks he can get it, too, because he’s planning a performance that proves he’s deserving of that top 15 fight.

“I think he’s way overmatched in this one,” Martin said. “I think skill-wise, as long as I don’t get in a pissing contest with him or try to brawl with him or be like, ‘Hey, I’m going to out grapple him.’ I don’t think I need to do that. I think this is an easy fight … and I’m going to put him to sleep first round or early second round.”

“I think overall this is a perfect matchup for me. Our trajectories in our career, I think that I’m on my way up, he’s got to be on his way down, he’s getting older. Really I think this is just my time.”

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