Ajagba has a record of 20 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, with 14 knockouts, and he believes his fight against Martin Bakole last May was enough. The scorecard shows a majority draw. For him, heavyweight contender traffic has not diminished.

“Everyone knows I won my last fight,” Ajagba told UFC.com. “But we’re going to continue this fight and all I can think about is sticking to my game plan and stuff like that.”

He tried to deal with Bakole with range control and footwork, working behind the jab and letting the big man readjust. The situation in the first few rounds remained tense. Tanker was late, Bakole cut off the ring and the judges saw enough to tie the score.

“My game plan was perfect,” Ajagba said. “All we did in that fight was move because this guy loves to fight and he loves to box.”

Heavyweight bouts rely on effective offense and clean punches, rather than backing off. Even after a disciplined jab, long retreats tend to narrow the deficit.

Charles Martin is a former belt holder with 35 professional fights under his belt and has not competed since 2024. He knows how to survive, how to buy time, how to win when the pressure builds. He also knows what it’s like to be among the top players in the conference.

Ajagba sees vulnerability.

“He’s not a tough opponent, but he’s a former champion,” Ajagba said. “When he steps in the ring with me, it’s going to be another loss for him. That’s it.”

The key is punch selection and variation. Invest in your body early, starting with injections. Heavyweights who move in a straight line and repeat the same look are timed and edited.

“Start with the jab, see how he reacts, see his weaknesses,” Ajagba said. “When you see their weaknesses, that’s when you eliminate them.”

If Ajagba stands tall behind the jab and allows Martin to find his footing, it’s going to be a long night. If he resets his feet and works his body after each combination, the timeout will begin.

Sunday was not the highlight. It’s about moving forward in a crowded heavyweight field.

Expect pressure to be measured as early as possible. If Martin’s legs fail in the middle rounds, Ajagba’s right hands will start to land cleanly.

Event information:

Date: Sunday, February 15
Start time: 7pm PT / 10pm ET / 3am UK
Streaming Platform: Zuffa Boxing
Location: Meta APEX, Las Vegas
Main Event: Efe Ajagba vs. Charles Martin
How to watch: Watch via Paramount+