Chris Padilla is 3-0 in the UFC, but has been on the sidelines since March, waiting patiently to get back to action.
That finally arrives this Saturday at UFC Vegas 111, where Padilla faces off against Ismael Bonfim in a main card lightweight match-up. Though with no injuries keeping him out, if he’d had his way, Padilla would have been back in the cage before now.
“Everything was fine on my side. It’s just, the powers that be had to do their job, and here I am to do my job,” Padilla (16-6) said during this week’s UFC Vegas 111 media day. “I’m very grateful for them, and here I am.”
Upon the suggestion that opponents might be ducking him, Padilla was quick to point out he wasn’t the one saying it. But, he added, “everyone’s got to see me one day, again, just like today. If there is someone running, if I see your name come up, it’s time to eat.”
Padilla enters UFC Vegas 111 off a split decision win over Jai Herbert, in a fight that saw his eye badly injured. The fact that he was able to soldier on in that fight, noted Padilla, shows he is willing to pay in blood if need be.
“One of my mottos is ‘pain is power.’ And sometimes the Gods demand blood. It’s going to be mine or theirs,” explained Padilla. “I think that’s a fair wager for the opportunity to be great.”
“If I have to pay in blood, I will, by any means man. The only they’ll stop me is if they stop me. If I can’t continue, I won’t, but if I can, bro, I grew up in spankings. When mom can just give you a good whuppin’ to decide your crimes. So it’s like, I use to get whupped for free. Do something bad, get a whupping, win nothing at the end of it. When Jai cut me, literally my brain said ‘lock in. You’re not hurt, lock in, eyes open. You still got a target in front of you, if we can let’s try to knock him out.’ He thinks he sees a wounded prey that he can feed on? Nah, not me. Not me. You hurt me, I’m hurting your ass back.”
Chris Padilla will no doubt hope to be giving the whuppin’ this Saturday against Bonfim.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 111 media day appearance by Chris Padilla above.
