{{short description|Mexican mixed martial artist (born 1996)}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Fernando Padilla | native_name = | native_name_lang= | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | other_names = El Valiente | nationality = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|15}} | birth_place = Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico | fighting_out_of = Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} | weight_lb = 145 | weight_class = Featherweight | reach = | style = | stance = | team = Team Oyama<br>Pro Athletes | rank = | trainer = | years_active = 2015–present | mma_kowin = 5 | mma_subwin = 9 | mma_decwin = 2 | mma_dqwin = | mma_koloss = 1 | mma_subloss = | mma_decloss = 5 | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | other = | occupation = | spouse = | website = | boxrec = | sherdog = 228071 | updated = }} '''Fernando Padilla''' (born December 15, 1996) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in featherweight division of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
==Background== Padilla's involvement with sports began at a young age, when as a child he would defend himself against those who tried to intimidate him. He started practicing karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the 10th Planet Chihuahua gym, where he began his transition to MMA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2024/12/14/fernando-padilla-from-bouncey-house-karate-to-ufc-tampa/|title=Fernando Padilla: From Bouncey House Karate to UFC Tampa|date=2024-12-14|access-date=2026-03-09|website=Cageside Press}}</ref>
==Mixed martial arts career== ===Early career=== Padilla began his professional career in April 2015, and achieved an undefeated 5–0 record before being defeated in March 2017 by Dan Ige at a Cage Fury Championships event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cffc.tv/news/2017/3/31/cffc-64-highlights-results|title=CFFC 64 Highlights & Results|date=2017-03-31|access-date=2026-03-09|website=CFFC.tv}}</ref>
During the next four years, Padilla competed for various promotions, including Legacy Fighting Alliance and King of the Cage, where he amassed 7 wins and 3 losses.<ref name="padilla">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/98371-fernando-padilla|title=Fernando Padilla ("El Valiente") Profile - Tapology|access-date=2026-03-09|website=Tapology}}</ref>
====Fury FC champion==== On May 16, 2021, at Fury FC 46, Padilla defeated Cameron Graves by technical knockout after a knee strike in the second round, becoming the new Fury FC champion. It was his last fight before signing with the UFC.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gaytán|first=Arnoldo|url=https://diario.mx/deportes/chihuahuense-fernando-padilla-va-a-la-ufc-20210517-1796064.html|title=Chihuahuense Fernando Padilla va a la UFC|date=2021-05-18|access-date=2026-03-09|website=El Diario de Juárez}}</ref> In that fight, he caught Dana White's attention when he executed the spinning elbow that gave him the victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufcespanol.com/news/debuta-mexicano-fernando-padilla|title=Fernando Padilla Listo Para Su Debut En UFC|access-date=2026-03-09|website=www.ufcespanol.com}}</ref>
===Ultimate Fighting Championship=== Padilla made his UFC promotional debut against Julian Erosa on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 45.<ref>{{Cite web|last=King|first=Nolan|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-bellator-fight-announcements-matchup-roundup-february-27-march-5-2023|title=Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 27-March 5)|date=2023-03-06|access-date=2026-03-09|website=MMA Junkie}}</ref> He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://es.agfight.com/fernando-padilla-debuto-con-nocaut-sobre-julian-erosa-en-el-ufc-vegas-72/|title=Fernando Padilla debutó con nocaut sobre Julian Erosa en el UFC Vegas 72|date=2023-03-06|access-date=2026-03-09|website=AgFight.com}}</ref>
Padilla faced Kyle Nelson on September 16, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 227.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itnwwe.com/mma/fernando-padilla-vs-kyle-nelson-set-for-noche-ufc/|title=Fernando Padilla vs Kyle Nelson Set for Noche UFC on Sept 16|date=2023-08-02|access-date=2026-03-09|website=www.itnwwe.com}}</ref> He lost the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Anderson|first=Jay|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2023/09/16/noche-ufc-kyle-nelson-vs-fernando-padilla/|title=Noche UFC: Kyle Nelson Claims Hard-Fought Decision Over Fernando Padilla|date=2023-09-16|access-date=2024-03-24|website=Cageside Press}}</ref>
Padilla faced Luis Pajuelo on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trome.com/deportes/ufc/luis-pajuelo-quedo-listo-para-su-debut-en-el-ufc-ante-el-mexicano-fernando-padilla-noticia/|title=Luis Pajuelo quedó listo para su debut en el UFC ante el mexicano Fernando Padilla|date=2024-03-22|access-date=2026-03-09|website=Trome.com}}</ref> He won the fight by submission with a Brabo choke in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmaaldia.com/padilla-somete-al-peruano-pajuelo-en-ufc-vegas-89/|title=UFC Vegas 89: El mexicano Fernando Padilla aniquila al peruano Luis Pajuelo con rápida sumisión|date=2024-03-23|access-date=2026-03-09|website=MMA al Dia}}</ref> This victory earned him the ''Performance of the Night'' award.<ref name ="UFCV89">{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Chris|url=https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/ufc-vegas-89/ufc-vegas-89-bonus-report-five-fighters-take-home-an-extra-50k/|title=UFC Vegas 89 Bonus Report: Five fighters take home an extra $50k|date=2024-03-23|access-date=2026-03-09|website=bjpenn.com}}</ref>
Padilla faced Sean Woodson on December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leonard|first=Harvey|url=https://www.mmanews.com/features/matchmaking-bulletin/ufc-aliskerov-saudi-arabia/|title=UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Ikram Aliskerov Returns In Saudi Arabia|date=2024-10-27|access-date=2026-03-09|website=mmanews.com}}</ref> He lost the fight by technical knockout at the end of the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hester|first=Byron|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2024/12/14/sean-woodson-snipes-padilla-makes-him-look-slow-in-tko-victory/|title=Sean Woodson Snipes Padilla, Makes Him Look Slow In TKO Victory|date=2024-12-14|access-date=2026-03-09|website=Cageside Press}}</ref>
==Championships and accomplishments== *'''Ultimate Fighting Championship''' **Performance of the Night (One time) {{small|vs. Luis Pajuelo}}<ref name ="UFCV89"/> *'''Fury Fighting Championship''' **Fury FC Featherweight Championship (One time)
==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox |ko-wins=5 |sub-wins=9 |dec-wins=2 |ko-losses=1 |sub-losses= |dec-losses=5 |draws= }} {{MMA record start}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|16–6 |Sean Woodson |TKO (punches) |UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley |{{dts|2024|12|14}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:58 |Tampa, Florida, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|16–5 |Luis Pajuelo |Submission (brabo choke) |UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas |{{dts|2024|3|23}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2:45 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |{{small|Performance of the Night.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|15–5 |Kyle Nelson |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 |{{dts|2023|9|16}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|15–4 |Julian Erosa |TKO (punches) |UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón |{{dts|2023|4|29}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:41 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|14–4 |Cameron Graves |TKO (elbow) |Fury FC 46 |{{dts|2021|5|16}} |align=center|2 |align=center|1:19 |Houston, Texas, United States |{{small|Won the Fury FC Featherweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|13–4 |Nate Richardson |Decision (split) |LFA 99 |{{dts|2021|2|12}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Park City, Kansas, United States |{{small|Return to Featherweight.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|12–4 |Spike Carlyle |Decision (unanimous) |California Xtreme Fighting 17 |{{dts|2019|3|9}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Los Angeles, California, United States |{{small|Catchweight (150 lb) bout.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|12–3 |Donald Sanchez |TKO (punches) |LFA 58 |{{dts|2019|1|25}} |align=center|2 |align=center|1:27 |Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|11–3 |Fard Muhammad |Submission (triangle choke) |KOTC: 20th Anniversary |{{dts|2018|10|27}} |align=center|3 |align=center|1:19 |Ontario, California, United States |{{small|Return to Lightweight.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|10–3 |Kurt Kinser |Decision (split) |KOTC: Under Siege |{{dts|2018|5|4}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Alpine, California, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|10–2 |Talison Soares Costa |Decision (unanimous) |LFA 30 |{{dts|2018|1|12}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Costa Mesa, California, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|10–1 |Jeff Mesa |TKO (punches) |Capone's Productions: Mid-Pac 5 |{{dts|2017|11|18}} |align=center|1 |align=center|3:36 |Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|9–1 |Darrick Minner |Submission (triangle armbar) |LFA 25 |{{dts|2017|10|20}} |align=center|1 |align=center|3:10 |Omaha, Nebraska, United States |{{small|Return to Featherweight.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|8–1 |Ryan Fillingame |KO (punches) |KOTC: Never Quit |{{dts|2017|9|2}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:35 |Ontario, California, United States |{{small|Lightweight debut.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|7–1 |Sergio Perez |Submission (armbar) |California Xtreme Fighting 9 |{{dts|2017|8|19}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:21 |Los Angeles, California, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–1 |Dan Ige |Decision (unanimous) |Cage Fury FC 64 |{{dts|2017|3|25}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |San Diego, California, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|6–0 |Edgar Díaz Guzmán |Submission (triangle choke) |Combate Extremo: Nino vs. Loco |{{dts|2016|11|18}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:12 |Monterrey, Mexico | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|5–0 |Keni Harrison |Submission (armbar) |Red Cage 5 |{{dts|2016|6|11}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:44 |Chihuahua, Mexico | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|4–0 |Kaleb Gonzales |Submission (armbar) |Red Cage 2 |{{dts|2015|12|19}} |align=center|1 |align=center|N/A |Chihuahua, Mexico |{{small|Catchweight (150 lb) bout.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|3–0 |Kaleb Gonzales |Submission (triangle choke) |MMA Revolution: Equipo Durango vs. Equipo Chihuahua |{{dts|2015|11|20}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2:50 |Durango, Mexico | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|2–0 |José Landeros González |Submission (armbar) |Red Cage 1 |{{dts|2015|8|15}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2:03 |Chihuahua, Mexico |{{small|Featherweight debut.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|1–0 |Carlos Rivera |Decision (unanimous) |World Best Gladiators 8 |{{dts|2015|4|18}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Chihuahua, Mexico |{{small|Bantamweight debut.}} |}
==See also== {{portal|Martial arts}} *List of current UFC fighters *List of male mixed martial artists
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{UFC|fernando-padilla}} *{{Sherdog|228071}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Padilla, Fernando}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Mexican male mixed martial artists Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Category:Flyweight mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing karate Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Category:Sportspeople from Ciudad Juárez