Another First-Round Finish in Madrid
Zé "The Boogeyman" Machado continued his perfect run on March 7, 2026, defeating Michel "La Furia" Martinez via TKO (Punches) at 2:54 of round one at WOW 27 in the Madrid Arena, Madrid, Spain. The win extends his flawless professional record to 5-0 — all five victories coming by stoppage in the first round.
The 26-year-old Portuguese lightweight, representing Academia Unlimited out of Barreiro, made quick work of the experienced Spaniard. Martinez (5-1), fighting out of The Goat Shed Academy, had won his previous bout by spectacular head kick KO in 28 seconds, but had no answer for Machado's relentless pressure.
The Fight
From the opening bell, Machado pushed forward and imposed his pace. Standing at 5'6" against the taller Martinez (5'11"), he closed the distance quickly, mixing strikes with level changes. A series of punches hurt Martinez, and Machado followed up with ground-and-pound that forced referee Carlos Nunes to step in at 2:54 of the first round.
The Road to 5-0
Machado turned professional in February 2024 and has since compiled one of the most impressive starts in European MMA:
Fight 1: Makula Kingani — KO (Punch) R1, 1:37 — FCL 1 (Feb 2024)
Fight 2: Kevin Pedro Lazaro Perdomo — SUB (Rear-Naked Choke) R1, 2:02 — FCL 2 (Mar 2025)
Fight 3: Nathan de Lima — TKO (Punches) R1, 3:55 — Lions FC 11 (Jun 2025)
Fight 4: Enrique Exposito — SUB (Guillotine Choke) R1, 4:30 — WOW 25 Madrid (Dec 2025)
Fight 5: Michel Martinez — TKO (Punches) R1, 2:54 — WOW 27 Madrid (Mar 2026)
His win breakdown: 3 KO/TKO (60%), 2 submissions (40%). Average fight time: under 3 minutes.
From IMMAF Gold to Pro Dominance
Before turning pro, Machado established himself as one of Portugal's top amateur fighters. He won the IMMAF Senior World Championship in 2023 in Tirana, Albania, defeating Masud Odinaev in the lightweight final. He also earned silver at the 2019 IMMAF Junior European Championships and has represented Portugal at multiple international events since 2018.
What's Next
With five consecutive first-round finishes and a world championship pedigree, Machado is quickly outgrowing the regional scene. BDZ Management is preparing his next bout at WoW. The Boogeyman's chapter in European MMA is only just beginning.