 Martinez wrestled at Marcos de Niza High School and then attended Pima Community College where he wrestled and trained with the likes of Efrain Escudero, Jamie Varner, and Anthony Birchak.A native Arizonan, Montague began his mixed martial arts career in 2006, competing first at lightweight and then featherweight in regional promotions, primarily across the Southwestern United States.Martinez faced former UFC title challenger Mark Hominick in 2008, where Hominick defeated Martinez via unanimous decision.