Anthony Rocco Martin (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Anthony Rocco Martin has been making noise in the UFC’s welterweight division recently, and the veteran fighter credits his partner, Kayla Harrison for playing a key role.

After losing via split decision to lightweight Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Martin moved up to welterweight and has since defeated Keita Nakamura, Ryan LaFlare and Jake Matthews. Martin finished both LaFlare and Matthews.

In advance of Martin’s boat this Saturday with Sergio Moraes, the welterweight had this to say about his recent successes and Harrison. The latter is a two-time, Olymic Gold Medalist in Judo, and Harrison has gone 3-0 to date in MMA (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“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.”

Martin and Moraes will battle at UFC Fight Night 146, which is taking place in Wichita.