Preview: UFC on ESPN 53 ‘Ribas vs. Namajunas’

Lightweights

Fernando Padilla (15-5, 1-1 UFC) vs. Luis Pajuelo (8-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Padilla (-162), Pajuelo (+136)

Two fights in, Padilla’s UFC career has been a mixed bag. Signed in 2021, the Mexican prospect had to wait nearly two years before making his UFC debut in April, when he quickly put away Julian Erosa. It was a much-needed clean victory for “El Valiente,” who could be a bit frustrating on the regional scene. Padilla is an obvious talent with some boxing craft supplemented by his long frame and impressive durability, but he would often refuse to pick up the pace to make his victories as easy as they should be on paper. Unfortunately for him, those issues came back to the forefront in his sophomore effort against Kyle Nelson—a showing where Padilla never really got out ahead of things and wound up coasting to a decision loss. Now, he looks to rebound against a Peruvian newcomer in Pajuelo.

An alum of the 2023 edition of Dana White’s Contender Series, Pajuelo is in the same mold as a lot of other recent signings out of Peru. His regional film is not all that impressive, but his aggression and toughness have carried him enough that he could be a problem for a lot of his opponents going forward. Padilla might be the man with enough knockout power to finally finish Pajuelo, but the UFC newcomer looks to be the more comfortable of the two in an extended brawl, and he should be able to make this that type of fight. The pick is Pajuelo via decision.

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Ribas vs. Namajunas
Williams vs. Tafa
Shahbazyan vs. Dobson
Talbott vs. Saaiman
Quarantillo vs. Zalal
Padilla vs. Pajuelo
The Prelims