London — Having bested Jai Herbert at UFC London, Chris Padilla is ready to take on the world. Or at least Europe.
Following a decision win in the featured prelim on Saturday night, Padilla (16-6) said that he didn’t have names in mind for his next fight, but rather a location. Or locations.
“Not so much names but more I’d say a continent. I’m here in Europe guys, so I’m here to call out all the top European lightweights,” Padilla exclaimed, speaking with Cageside Press and other media outlets. “If you were a Cage Warriors champion, I’m here for you. I just got England down, I’m looking at France next. Saw Duncan just won, so I’ll run that up. Then let’s go to Spain, let’s go to Australia, then I’m here to take Russia.”
Australia’s sudden integration with Europe not withstanding, it’s clear Padilla is looking to do a European tour. As to why, “I see myself as a conqueror personally,” explained Padilla. “I fought in the United States my whole life, and I’m ready to walk down this continent. I’m going to lock it down. My job is to represent the west coast, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
There’s an end goal in mind as well, unlikely as it may be. “No conqueror has ever took the entire world. Everyone always stops in Russia, and we know who the Russian champion is, and he still hasn’t been beaten. So that’s what I want.”
While Islam Makhachev is the current lightweight champ, with the undefeated reference, it seems Chris Padilla is looking to Khabib Nurmagomedov — undefeated but retired several years now.
Still, there’s no harm in dreaming big. But Padilla may have to wait a bit before he gets back to work, given the damage he sustained in the Herbert fight. He was boasting several stitches over one eye, a nasty cut that may take some time to heal.
“Sh*t I don’t know bro, it just hurt like a bitch if you want me to be honest with you man,” Padilla replied when asked how many stitches it took to close up the wound. “It is what it is. Like I always say, I’ll win by any means. So if this was going to happen, I would have took one right across the face and I would have still walked forward. I couldn’t see nothing from my left eye, there was blood pouring down, but I was ready to run that sh*t up no matter what.”
Ultimately, Padilla wants to get back to work “as soon as my face heals. I’m hoping for May, but the bosses decide that.”
Watch the full UFC London post-fight media appearance by Chris Padilla above.
