Sharif “Bam Bam” Jones (3-1 MMA, 0-0 AOW) will face Will Martinez (11-3 MMA, 0-0 AOW) at Art of War 2 inside Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester, Pennsylvania June 2, 2017.
Most recently, Jones was scheduled to challenge Tim Kunkel for the vacant Maverick MMA lightweight title at Maverick MMA 1 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania April 7, 2017.
The Pennsylvania Athletic Commission suspended Jones 60 days after going to the hospital for dehydration following his second professional boxing bout against Edward Jeramie Ortiz March 11, 2016. The bout was ruled a draw.
The 24-year-old is coming off a third-round rear-naked choke victory against Travis Creamer at World Cagefighting Championships 63 Aug. 13, 2016. It is a win where Jones earned his first title as a professional fighter.
The win avenged Jones’ first career defeat when he lost by TKO in the first round against Creamer at WCC 16 March 5, 2016.
Previous to the defeat, Jones submitted Greg Quarentello by a second-round rear-naked choke at WCC 10 November 2014. In his professional debut, “Bam Bam” finished Mitchell Killeen at Gladiators of the Cage 4 March 15, 2014.
Jones considers Martinez to be a legend, which is why he called him out. It is a call-out that sparked controversy via Facebook.
One of the posts stated Jones would be fighting for “the world f@#kboy championship belt,” against the Sloth character from “The Goonies,” movie. Jones is adamant he never meant any disrespect.
“Now, as far as those posts, I just wanted to show the public I never disrespected this man. I simply said you are the legend, I’m the champ and I want what you got,” Jones said. “Instead of him being the ‘OG’ in the game and taking it as a compliment, he gets butt hurt. S#@t makes no sense.”
After a two-year absence, Martinez returned to the cage and defeated Troy Wittman by unanimous decision at WCC 18 Oct. 21, 2016. In his last 11 bouts, Martinez lost once.
The defeat came by a unanimous decision to current UFC featherweight Desmond Green at Bellator 114 March 28, 2014.
The 36-year-old is a six-time Bellator veteran with wins against Goiti Yamauchi, Kevin Roddy, Brent Hess, Casey Johnson and Terrell Hobbs. The owner of Martinez BJJ, he will fight Jones in his hometown of Philadelphia.
This is the first bout announced on the card.
By NJ MMA News Staff