Kyle Nelson edged out Fernando Padilla in a striking battle tonight at UFC Fight Night 227 to win by unanimous decision.
Round One:
Jab for Padilla and a leg kick from Nelson in response. Now a push kick from Padilla. Inside leg kick for him. Nice calf kick from Nelson.
Another leg kick from Nelson. Push kick for Padilla. Padilla feels out with the jab and then follows up with a right hand. Leg kick from Nelson again.
Jab for Nelson now. Inside leg kick from Padilla. Jab for Nelson. Body punch for Padilla. Another calf kick from Nelson.
Padilla looks for a punch but eats a jab from Nelson that put him on his heels for a moment. Nelson’s calf kick lands again well.
Push kick for Padilla that may have a strayed a little low. Winging right hand from Nelson then back to the calf kick.
Body kick from Padilla. Padilla gets into the clinch to land a few good elbows and then back off again. Nelson goes to the body and then the head.
Body kick for Nelson. Right hook for him as Padilla is looking for his own punches. Padilla constantly pressuring.
Overhand from Nelson and fast hands from Padilla in return. Padilla still pressing forward as the round comes to an end.
Round Two:
Body kick for Nelson. Now a leg kick. Padilla feels out with the jab. Leg kick for him. He goes for a one-two but it comes off the guard.
Heavy one-two lands for Nelson. Nelson lands again and Padilla may have been hurt but is showing a good chin.
Missed head kick attempt from Padilla. Body kick from Nelson. Nelson winds up on a right hand and lands it. Nelson gets another of those right hands through.
Padilla trying to make something happen, but Nelson continuing to work low kicks and a body kick. Padilla’s output slowing a bit here.
Jab for Nelson. Body kick from him. Back to the jab. Body kick from Padilla. Overhand right from Nelson. Now a push kick.
Push kick for Padilla. He misses with one upstairs. Leg kick for Nelson. Inside leg kick for Padilla. Head kick attempt from Nelson is caught by Padilla who drives him into the cage. They break apart with Nelson threatening with another head kick attempt. Leg kicks for Nelson.
Round Three:
Nelson back to the calf kick. Head kick attempt from him is blocked. Leg kicks for Padilla. He lands another. Rip to the body from Padilla as Nelson fires off his right hand.
Padilla tries for a knee to the body, but his foot lands to the groin and forces a brief stoppage for Nelson to recover.
On the restart Nelson lands a body kick. Push kick from Padilla. Right hand for Padilla and a kick from Nelson. Leg kick for Nelson.
Push kick from Padilla. Nelson goes for a takedown attempt but doesn’t commit to it. Short flurry of punches from Padilla, but Nelson has his guard up.
Head kick attempt from Padilla. Leg kick from Padilla. Short right hand from him as Nelson was coming forward.
Right hand for Nelson. Padilla trying to land punches but Nelson is presenting a mobile target. Head kick from Padilla misses.
Nelson backing up but then drives forward and lands a takedown, but Padilla is straight back up. Knee from Nelson to the body. Final few seconds of the fight and Padilla is looking to clinch and lands a knee to the midsection.
Decision:
This was a competitive fight, but though he was often the one backing up, Nelson was being more effective at times, particularly in the 2nd round, with his calf kicks taking a toll, along with solid body kicks and overhand right, leading him to a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x2, 30-27).
