The lightweight bout between Ismael Bonfim and Chris Padilla is set for UFC Vegas 111, featuring the Bonfim brothers' strong presence at the event. Ismael Bonfim (20-5) faces Chris Padilla (16-6) three fights before his younger brother headlines the card.
Bonfim, 29, has struggled recently with a 1-2 record in his last three fights. He enters UFC Vegas 111 coming off a first-round TKO loss to Nazim Sadykhov in February. This defeat halted the momentum from his 2024 win over Vinc Pichel and was the first knockout loss of his career.
Padilla, 30, remains undefeated in the UFC with a 3-0 record since his debut. After a decade competing on the West Coast regional circuit, the Californian known as "Taco" made a strong UFC entrance with a submission victory over James Llontop on short notice at Vegas 91. He followed with a knockout win against Rongzhu and a decision win over Jai Herbert.
According to DraftKings, Padilla continues to defy expectations. Despite stepping in last minute, he has won all three UFC fights as an underdog. He enters UFC Vegas 111 in a similar position against Bonfim.
"Padilla might not be the best fighter Bonfim has ever faced, but he will test his will from the jump."
Padilla's grit and impressive UFC run make this fight a significant challenge for Bonfim.
Chris Padilla, undefeated in the UFC, faces Ismael Bonfim, who seeks to recover from a knockout loss, with Padilla expected to challenge Bonfim’s resilience in this lightweight clash.