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UFC Vegas 89 was everything except boring. We witnessed biting, guillotine chokes, and even the performance of ‘Mexican Jon Jones’. Fernando Padilla made it to the Octagon on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 89 to take on the formidable Luis Pajuelo. ‘El Valiente’ was coming off from a loss against Kyle Nelson and was in a mood to change his fate.

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Padilla was not in a mood to mess up his fight, and it seemed like he did what he promised to do. ‘El Valiente’ submitted the Peruvian fighter in the very first round. Let us get a bit deep into their fight.

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Fernando Padilla calls himself Jon Jones after his heroic victory at UFC Vegas 89

Luis Pajuelo was coming in with a five-fight winning streak against Padilla. On the other hand, ‘El Valiente’ was riding a 1 fight losing streak. The action started in the very first round itself when Padilla landed a heavy leg kick. The Mexican was in control of the entire match.

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Padilla started strong, ma͏naging the distance well with ͏a variety of kicks. The eventual winner targeted both the legs and body with his kicks, also incorporating sneaky uppercuts and knees into his attacks.͏ After a series of kicks, Pajuelo made the mistake of coming forward to the Mexican. Padilla landed a left hand, sitting Pajuelo down. At that moment, the Peruvian fighter was down and Padilla wasted no time in grabbing his neck.

Read More: UFC News: Sean O’Malley Almost Confirms Next Title Defense, Sidelining Ilia Topuria Rivalry

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After a moment of struggle, Padilla finally locked up a standing d’arce choke, forcing Pajuelo to tap right away. After the victory, the victor took center stage to state that he was ‘Mexican Jon Jones’. ” “I mix it up – down, up, elbows, knees, submissions, everything. I have everything! The Jon Jones of ’45. Mexican Jon Jones, dog!” said Padilla in his statement.

Padilla’s brill͏iance seems to have caught the attention of former bantamweight world ch͏ampion Aljamain Sterling͏. Let’s see what the “Funkmaster” had to say about the fight.

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Aljamain Sterling is in awe of Padilla’s performance

Aljamain ͏Sterling seems to be watching every fight in the UFC ͏right now. In his most recent escapade, the former bantamweight champion took to his X (formerly Twitter) to tweet his respect for Padilla’s Jon Jones-style finish against Pajuelo.

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“That was a nasty sequence.” wrote Sterling in his response for Padilla. ‘El Valiente’ started his professional MMA journey back in 2015. Padilla maintained a strong record of 14-4. The Mexican fighter was added to the UFC roster back in April last year. Interestingly, his initial fight in UFC also ended in the very first round with him knocking out Julian Erosa.

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Padilla’s journey with the promotion is just starting. What’s your take on Padilla’s journey with the UFC so far? State your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More: Dana White Is Certain About Igor Severino Having “Real Problems” Over Mike Tyson-Like Move On Andre Lima at UFC Vegas 89; Fans React on Recent Axing – “No Biting.”

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Suryakant Das

3,440 Articles

Suryakant Das is a senior writer who leads UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports, known for his broad expertise and standout professionalism in MMA journalism. Over two years in the field, he has become a key voice on real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and analysis of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His dynamic reporting is backed by selection to the Journalistic Excellence Program, which hones advanced editorial skills and strategic coverage approaches for top talent. Suryakant’s career is defined by his ability to deliver both speed and depth. His versatile background spans sports journalism, content writing, and editorial roles, helping him navigate fast-paced live coverage and deliver meaningful stories with clarity and precision. Recognition from respected MMA figures such as Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping further marks him as a trusted authority in the UFC community.

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Amal Joyce

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