Jonathan Martinez’s right arm carries most of his visible tattoo work: a shaded lion near the shoulder, “LA” lettering on the forearm and palm trees lower down. A small outlined “A” sits above his shorts, while the middle of his chest and much of his left side remain open. The mix of sizes and spacing is easier to see when the photos show both sides of him.
The lion and lettering on his right arm
In an October 2022 fight photo against Cub Swanson, Martinez is on the left in white shorts. His lion sits high on the right arm, with a crown-like outline above the face and black-and-gray shading around the eyes, muzzle and mane. The curve of the mane follows his shoulder rather than ending at a straight edge.
The letters “LA” farther down the right forearm use thicker strokes than the shaded portrait. An EssentiallySports report from May 2024 connects them with Los Angeles, where Martinez was born. The lion’s personal meaning hasn’t been established in the reporting. Swanson is on the right in red shorts; his more extensive torso tattoos belong to him, not Martinez.
For another fighter with extensive coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos. Martinez leaves more skin open, so the right arm stands out as the main cluster.
The palm-tree tattoo on his right forearm
This raised-hand photo shows several palm trees near Martinez’s right wrist, above a darker curved area of shading. Their narrow trunks and spreading fronds use the length of the forearm, with the darker work connecting them to the larger sleeve.
The palm trees and “LA” lettering both point visually toward California, a connection also discussed in the published tattoo report. The images identify the scenery, but don’t name a neighborhood or give a separate personal meaning for each tree. Flags in this photo cover most of his torso; they’re part of the moment, not tattoos.
The outlined A tattoo on his lower abdomen
An outlined “A” sits low on Martinez’s right abdomen, just above the shorts. In this photo after his October 2022 win over Swanson, his right hand is raised and the letter’s pointed border is visible around open skin. It’s much smaller and lighter than the arm work.
A report has suggested the initial could refer to his wife, Amber, but Martinez hasn’t confirmed that. The waistband and his pose partly obscure the design, so the photograph is clearest about its placement, not its private reference.
Career context: the Yanez contest
This October 2023 photo shows Martinez on the left in red gloves during his fight with Adrian Yanez. His less-tattooed left side faces the camera, while the detailed right arm is turned away. Martinez won by second-round TKO.
Before the fight, he told UFC he was getting more comfortable with the attention that came with winning. The interview adds career context, but doesn’t explain the lion or palm trees.
Career context: facing Jose Aldo in Rio
At UFC 301 in May 2024, Martinez is on the right in red shorts, extending a kick toward Jose Aldo in blue. Aldo won by unanimous decision. His tattoos dominate the foreground, while the action partly hides Martinez’s right arm.
In a November 2024 UFC interview, Martinez reflected on the fight and discussed moving his training back to Texas, working with Ohana Academy and his own MTZ Fight Club. The photos from different events show why a turned-away arm can make the same collection look much smaller.
Career context: his leg-kick game
A wider view of the Yanez fight shows Martinez on the right in red shorts, throwing a low kick. Leg kicks were central to his stoppage wins over Swanson and Yanez. In this full-body photo the tattoos are smaller in frame, but the open chest and left side make the right-arm sleeve’s scale easier to judge.
The UFC Vegas 81 interview below follows his October 2023 win over Yanez. It gives a post-fight view alongside the close-ups that show the lion, palm trees and lettering in more detail.