Chris Padilla

Overview

Chris Padilla has never lost in the UFC, and his last fight ended with a submission at 4:59 of the third round, one second before the final bell. "Taco" fights at lightweight out of California Mixed Martial Arts and sits at 5-0-1 in the UFC (18-6-1 across all promotions). Four of those five wins came by finish.

Six fights. No losses. One draw.

UFC Career

Padilla debuted in April 2024 with a first-round submission of James Llontop at 4:33. Five months later he beat Rongzhu by doctor's stoppage at 4:14 of the second round.

The next one was the closest he had won to that point. Jai Herbert went the full three rounds with him in March 2025, and Padilla took a split decision. He answered with a second-round KO/TKO of Ismael Bonfim in November 2025, his second stoppage by strikes.

His only blemish is the draw: a majority decision against MarQuel Mederos at UFC 327 that went all three rounds. He bounced back against Nasrat Haqparast with a third-round submission, which extended his unbeaten run to six.

Late finishes are his pattern, not early ones. Only one of his four stoppages came in the first round.

Fighting Style

Padilla is a busy, accurate striker who puts a lot of volume on his opponents. That output comes with a price, since he takes more punishment than most and his defense is about average.

He rarely goes looking for takedowns or submissions, and he is very hard to take down, which lets him keep the fight standing when he wants it there.

The finishing numbers show a fighter who can end it in different ways. Four of his five UFC wins came before the final bell: two by TKO in the second round and two by submission, one in the first round and one in the third. Don't file him under pure strikers.

Notable Wins

• Nasrat Haqparast — submission, round 3 (4:59), UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues (2026)
• Ismael Bonfim — KO/TKO, round 2 (4:30), UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs Brown (2025)
• James Llontop — submission, round 1 (4:33), UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez (2024)

Quick Facts

• Division: Lightweight
• UFC record: 5-0-1
• Professional record (all promotions): 18-6-1
• UFC debut: 2024
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height / reach: 5'9" / 74"
• Team: California Mixed Martial Arts
• Born: Lynwood, CA, United States