While brother Gabriel was headlining, lightweight Ismael Bonfim had struggled for UFC Vegas 111, losing serious weight and coughing up 25% of his purse for his fight with Chris Padilla.
Padilla returned to action for the first time since March, looking for his fourth win in as many fights under the UFC banner.
It was Padilla who went on the attack early and Bonfim countered with a heavy right hand. Padilla had his guard high, firing kicks and clearly aware of the Brazilian’s heavy hands. An entry right hand for Padilla was countered and he backed away again. Padilla began chopping away at the legs, and Bonfim responded with a shot to the body before the pair clinched. They went down in a heap and came right back up as the small crowd at the UFC Apex started a “Taco” chant in support of Padilla. Bonfim would have a late chance of an entry, but that was not to be.
Padilla’s calf kicks continued in round two as Bonfim continued to let his hands fly. Seriously bad intentions seemed to accompany every punch. Padilla kept his guard up, though that opened up his body, which Bonfim landed with a three-punch combo. Even when he was on guard, some of Bonfim’s punches, which often looked past the arms, still seemed to have impact. When a low blow grazed him, Padilla opted to continue fighting without pause. Moments later, Padilla landed a blow 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 afterwards. He couldn’t land it and suddenly Padilla had Ismael Bonfim in a bad spot. Bonfim went down from an elbow and tried to grab a leg. When that failed, ‘Taco’ Padilla began firing measured, well-placed shots into the ear as Bonfim covered himself.
After six or seven the referee clearly felt that Bonfim was not defending intelligently and waved off the fight!
Official result: Chris Padilla def. Ismael Bonfim by technical knockout, round 2, 4:30
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