While brother Gabriel headlined the card, lightweight Ismael Bonfim had struggled ahead of UFC Vegas 111, badly missing weight and coughing up 25% of his purse for his fight with Chris Padilla.
Padilla was returning to action for the first time since March, looking for his fourth win in as many fights under the UFC banner.
It was Padilla on the offensive early, and Bonfim countering with a heavy right hand. Padilla had his guard up high, firing kicks and clearly cognizant of the Brazilian’s heavy hands. A right hand on entry for Padilla was countered, and he backed away again. Padilla began chopping away at the legs, and Bonfim answered with a shot to the body, before the pair clinched up. They went down in a heap, and popped right back up as the tiny crowd at the UFC Apex started a “Taco” chant in support of Padilla. Bonfim would have a chance at a submission late, but it wasn’t to be.
Padilla’s calf kicks continued in round two, while Bonfim continued to let his hands fly. Seriously bad intentions seemed to accompany every punch thrown. Padilla kept his guard high, though that opened up his body, which Bonfim landed to off a three-punch combo. Even with his guard up, some of Bonfim’s punches, often glancing off the arms, still seemed to have an impact. When a low blow grazed him, Padilla chose to keep fighting without a break. Moments later, with was Padilla landing a punch to the body, followed by a knee. If you wanted to know if it had an impact, the answer became clear when Bonfim went after a takedown immediately after. He couldn’t land it, and suddenly Padilla had Ismael Bonfim in a bad spot. Off an elbow, Bonfim went down, and tried to grab a leg. When he couldn’t, “Taco” Padilla began firing off measured, well place shots to the ear as Bonfim covered up.
After six or seven, the ref clearly was of the opinion that Bonfim wasn’t defending intelligently, and waved off the fight!
Official Result: Chris Padilla def. Ismael Bonfim by TKO, Round 2, 4:30
