Chris Padilla, head-and-shoulders portrait

Chris Padilla

Lightweight
Orthodox
California Mixed Martial Arts
Record Record: 18-6-1
Wins
18
Losses
6
Draws
1
9KO/TKO
6Sub
3Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age
30
Height
5′9″1.75 m
Reach
74″188 cm
Stance StanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Orthodox
Weight class
Lightweight
Nationality
United States
Team
California Mixed Martial Arts
Active
2014-present

Record

Tap expandable fights for their breakdowns.

WinRecord after fight: 18-6-1SUB
Opponent: Nasrat Haqparast, their record after the fight: 18-7-0arm-triangle chokeR3 4:59

Padilla and Haqparast traded in a competitive, back-and-forth fight across the first two rounds. Padilla dropped Haqparast in round three and immediately hunted for a finish. With 30 seconds left, Padilla clamped an arm-triangle choke and referee Frank Trigg stopped the fight in the final second at 4:59.

Key moments

  • Padilla and Haqparast traded in a competitive, back-and-forth fight across the first two rounds.
  • Padilla dropped Haqparast in round three and immediately hunted for a finish.
  • With 30 seconds left, Padilla clamped an arm-triangle choke; referee Frank Trigg stopped the fight in the final second.
DrawRecord after fight: 17-6-1DRAW
Opponent: MarQuel Mederos, their record after the fight: 11-1-1majorityR3 5:00
UFC 327
11 Apr 2026
WinRecord after fight: 17-6-0TKO
Opponent: Ismael Bonfim, their record after the fight: 20-6-0punchesR2 4:30
UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown
8 Nov 2025
WinRecord after fight: 16-6-0DEC
Opponent: Jai Herbert, their record after the fight: 13-6-1splitR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady
22 Mar 2025

Padilla went to London and nicked a split decision over Herbert in a competitive three-rounder.

Key moments

  • Beat Herbert by split decision after fifteen minutes.
  • The victory followed the doctor-stoppage win over Zhu Rong in September 2024.
  • It gave Padilla his third straight UFC win.
WinRecord after fight: 15-6-0TKO
Opponent: Rongzhudoctor stoppageR2 4:14
UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady
7 Sep 2024

Padilla's pressure and damage forced a doctor stoppage against Zhu Rong late in the second round at the Apex. It was an important follow-up to his debut because it gave him consecutive UFC wins and reinforced how much attritional offense he can pile up over time.

Key moments

  • Defeated Zhu Rong by doctor stoppage at 4:14 of round two.
  • The finish came in Padilla's second UFC appearance.
  • It set up the March 2025 matchup with Jai Herbert.
WinRecord after fight: 14-6-0SUB
Opponent: James Llontoprear-naked chokeR1 4:33
UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez
27 Apr 2024
WinRecord after fight: 13-6-0TKO
Opponent: Justin JaynespunchesR2 3:10
UNF 13: Up Next Fighting 13
21 Oct 2023
WinRecord after fight: 12-6-0SUB
Opponent: Serob Minasyanrear-naked chokeR3 3:02
UNF 7: Up Next Fighting 7
13 May 2023
WinRecord after fight: 11-6-0TKO
Opponent: Eljeria PorteepunchesR1 4:07
UNF 4: Up Next Fighting 4: Millender vs. Ahmadyar
28 Jan 2023
LossRecord after fight: 10-6-0DEC
Opponent: Darren Smith Jr.splitR3 5:00
UNF 1: Up Next Fighting 1
21 May 2022

Padilla dropped a split decision to Darren Smith Jr. after three rounds at the inaugural Up Next Fighting event.

Key moments

  • Lost a split decision over fifteen minutes.
  • The fight followed his quick body-shot knockout of Emilio Williams.
  • He bounced back from the setback with three straight regional wins.
WinRecord after fight: 10-5-0KO
Opponent: Emilio Williamspunch to the bodyR1 0:50
CG 31: Celtic Gladiator 31
19 Mar 2022

Padilla needed less than a minute to knock Williams out with a body shot at Celtic Gladiator 31.

Key moments

  • Won by body-shot knockout in the first round.
  • The finish came just 50 seconds into the fight.
  • Set up the May 2022 booking with Darren Smith Jr.
LossRecord after fight: 9-5-0DEC
Opponent: Devon BrockunanimousR3 5:00
LXF 5: Lights Out Xtreme Fighting 5
7 Aug 2021

Devon Brock outpointed Padilla over three rounds at LXF 5, handing him a unanimous decision loss. The defeat left Padilla needing another rebuild phase, which he began with the quick Williams knockout the following year.

Key moments

  • Lost a unanimous decision after three rounds.
  • Came more than three years after his previous documented fight.
  • Padilla responded in his next outing with a 50-second finish.
LossRecord after fight: 9-4-0SUB
Opponent: Nate Andrewsrear-naked chokeR2 2:04
CES MMA 49: Curtis vs. Norwood
6 Apr 2018

Andrews caught Padilla with a rear-naked choke in the second round at CES 49. It was Padilla's second straight loss in a step-up stretch against stronger opposition after the Bellator defeat to Gabriel Green earlier that year.

Key moments

  • Lost by rear-naked choke in round two.
  • The submission came at 2:04 of the second frame.
  • Marked Padilla's second consecutive defeat in 2018.
LossRecord after fight: 9-3-0SUB
Opponent: Gabriel Greenrear-naked chokeR1
Bellator 192: Jackson vs. Sonnen
20 Jan 2018
WinRecord after fight: 9-2-0TKO
Opponent: Quinton McCottrellpunchesR1 3:13
FCOC: Fight Club OC
12 Oct 2017
WinRecord after fight: 8-2-0DEC
Opponent: Ivan CastillosplitR3 5:00
Brave CF 7: Untamed
29 Jul 2017

Padilla edged Ivan Castillo by split decision over three rounds at Brave CF 7.

Key moments

  • Won a split decision after three rounds.
  • Stood as his first documented victory after the Jason Gonzalez and Christian Aguilera losses.
  • Kept him moving on an international regional show.
LossRecord after fight: 7-2-0DEC
Opponent: Christian AguileraunanimousR3 5:00
KOTC: Warranted Aggression
18 Dec 2016

Aguilera beat Padilla by unanimous decision at King of the Cage: Warranted Aggression, extending a rough spell in which Padilla dropped back-to-back fights.

Key moments

  • Lost a unanimous decision over fifteen minutes.
  • Followed the June 2016 TKO loss to Jason Gonzalez.
  • Left Padilla looking for a reset entering 2017.
LossRecord after fight: 7-1-0TKO
Opponent: Jason GonzalezpunchesR2 3:14
RFA 38: Moises vs. Emmers
3 Jun 2016
WinRecord after fight: 7-0-0SUB
Opponent: Mike Segurarear-naked chokeR1 4:07
RFA 33: Townsend vs. Chavez
11 Dec 2015

Padilla finished Segura with a rear-naked choke late in the opening round at RFA 33.

Key moments

  • Won by rear-naked choke in round one.
  • The submission landed at 4:07 of the opening frame.
  • Gave Padilla another finish on a nationally recognized regional card.
WinRecord after fight: 6-0-0SUB
Opponent: George Hernandezrear-naked chokeR1 3:52
Xplode Fight Series: Taco
21 Mar 2015

The result showed the grappling side of a résumé that was already stacking fast finishes in several different ways.

Key moments

  • Won by rear-naked choke in the first round.
  • The finish came at 3:52 of round one.
  • Followed the 39-second guillotine win over Kris Armbrister.
WinRecord after fight: 5-0-0SUB
Opponent: Kris Armbristerguillotine chokeR1 0:39
Xplode Fight Series: Wasteland
8 Nov 2014
WinRecord after fight: 4-0-0DEC
Opponent: Aaron NeveuunanimousR3 5:00
Xplode Fight Series: Cerebral
19 Jul 2014
WinRecord after fight: 3-0-0TKO
Opponent: Kenny WyckoffpunchesR1 1:01
Xplode Fight Series: Twentynine Palms Fight Night
20 Jun 2014

Padilla stopped Wyckoff a minute into the fight at Twentynine Palms Fight Night, continuing the rapid-start trend from his first months as a pro.

Key moments

  • Won by first-round TKO from punches.
  • The stoppage came at 1:01 of the opening frame.
  • Followed his eight-second knockout of Julian Hernandez.
WinRecord after fight: 2-0-0KO
Opponent: Julian HernandezpunchesR1 0:08
Xplode Fight Series: Adrenaline
17 May 2014
WinRecord after fight: 1-0-0TKO
Opponent: Marko DamianipunchesR1 0:44
Xplode Fight Series: Fire
22 Mar 2014

The Read

Style, strengths, and defining traits.

Chris Padilla began training at 13 after watching Spike TV with his brother and cousins. His achievements include Xplode lightweight titles in both amateur and professional competition; he names chokes, elbows and knees as favorite techniques.