In a stellar performance at UFC Vegas 111 this past Saturday, lightweight Chris “Taco” Padilla secured his fourth consecutive UFC victory with a punishing second-round TKO against Ismael Bonfim, who missed weight before the fight.
Padilla weathered heavy strikes early in the fight, tactically wearing down his exhausted opponent before unleashing a flurry of punches and elbows in the second round, ending the fight and finishing a highly-touted prospect in Bonfim. However, the win was overshadowed by his raw, heartfelt post-fight interview inside the Octagon. Padilla made a direct plea to UFC CEO Dana White and matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard.
With his voice filled with emotion, he revealed his mother's difficult circumstances, stating, “My mom lives in a trailer right now, man. I need that fifty Gs so I can help my mama.”
Watch the full post-fight speech here:
His vulnerability turned a moment of triumph into a public appeal for his family’s well-being.
Padilla’s impressive victory was far from straightforward due to his opponent, Ismael Bonfim, missing weight by a significant five pounds for the lightweight bout.
Demonstrating professionalism, Padilla accepted the fight after a financial penalty was levied against Bonfim, taking 25% of his purse.
This context made his win all the more impressive, extending Padilla's winning streak to seven fights and solidifying his perfect UFC record to 4-0.
A Heartfelt Plea for Family
Instead of calling out a future opponent, Padilla used his post-fight microphone time to make a desperate request for the UFC’s $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
“I need money more than anything, bro. I need money. I'll fight anybody, but I need to be able to take care of my family first. It's hard to sleep at night knowing that my people are struggling,” he told commentator Paul Felder.
He reiterated that he had stepped up as a professional by accepting the fight against an overweight opponent and felt he had earned the extra compensation.
Later, at the post-fight press conference, the topic brought Padilla to tears.
Fighting back tears, he shared, “Everything that hurts on me, it doesn't hurt as much as seeing my mom struggle. So, I'm grateful, man. God is good, bro. I'm so grateful to come out f—ing put my heart and soul, my blood, everything, bro.”
Chris Padilla got emotional explaining his plea for a $50,000 bonus at #UFCVegas111, which he did not get. pic.twitter.com/O8bqLrd6Bi
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 9, 2025
His raw display highlighted the unfortunate financial realities many fighters face outside the cage.
Fan Backlash
Despite his powerful appeal and impressive performance, the UFC announced its post-fight bonuses, and Padilla’s name was notably absent. The four $50,000 awards were given to Gabriel Bonfim (his opponent's brother), Christian Leroy Duncan, Josh Hokit, and Zach Reese.
The snub did not go unnoticed by the MMA community online. Almost immediately, fans on social media platforms like X expressed their support for Padilla and urged the UFC President Dana White to help (replies to MMA Junkie on X):
“Stories about broke fighters are starting to get kind of out of hand. It's time we pay these guys a little better, no?”
“Watch Dana gift 250k to a millionaire YouTuber for their birthday next week.”
“Ngl with these scandals and new deal with Paramount Plus… [fighter pay] should be minimum 40k show/40k win. I don’t think that is crazy at all.”
“No wonder guys are throwing fights, Dana is too busy gambling the money away.”
“UFC has plateaued at this point. Been watching religiously since 2007, and even I’m over it. Pay these guys.”
“How many times do we have to watch this kinda stuff & still look at fighters not demanding some changes?”
“This is why fighters need to unionize. It’s pathetic that fighters don’t make more money. Padilla should get double his win bonus and the bonus. He fought a guy six pounds overweight and finished him.”
“I know Dana White will do the right thing.”
“Dana White, give this man some money. It won't hurt your pockets.”
“That's absolutely ridiculous. Pay ALL finishers. We have enough boring a— decision merchants in the UFC. Reward those who go the extra mile.”
Beyond the Bonus
The consensus among many was that Padilla’s combination of in-cage performance and personal hardship represented the exact kind of story the bonuses were meant to reward.
The incident, however, has sparked a broader discussion about fighter pay and the purpose of the UFC's bonuses. While the official bonus winners delivered notable performances, Padilla's story resonated on a deeply human level.
The widespread fan support has put public pressure on Dana White, who has been known in the past to provide financial assistance to individuals outside of the official bonus structure. He still has some time to rectify the situation with a discretionary payment and prove doubters wrong.
For now, Chris Padilla’s story has proven he is a fighter of immense principle and heart, as his primary goal is to use his fight money to lift his family out of hardship.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
