UFC Fight Night: Chris Padilla vs Nasrat Haqparast Preview & Prediction

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A lightweight prelim puts currently unbeaten in the UFC Chris Padilla against Nasrat Haqparast, returning from the worst night of his career.

Chris Padilla vs Nasrat Haqparast facts

What time are Chris Padilla and Nasrat Haqparast expected to walk out? 22 August 2026 at 10:30 pm

Where is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 285

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues main card

Anthony Hernandez vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)

Serghei Spivac vs Vitor Petrino (Heavyweight)

Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze (Light Heavyweight)

Mason Jones vs MarQuel Mederos (Lightweight)

Carli Judice vs Jeisla Chaves (Women's Flyweight)

Terrance Chatman vs Anthony Wint (Heavyweight)

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues prelims

Jamall Emmers vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)

Nasrat Haqparast vs Chris Padilla (Lightweight)

Marcio Barbosa vs Ryan Kuse (Featherweight)

Gauge Young vs Stanley Dorsainvil (Lightweight)

Wesley Schultz vs Jackson McVey (Middleweight)

Shanelle Dyer vs Elise Reed (Women's Strawweight)

Chris Padilla: The unranked Albert Einstein of 155

Chris Padilla (17-6-1) is on an eight-fight unbeaten run that includes a spotless 4-0-1 inside the octagon. “Taco” submitted James Llontop on debut, stopped Rongzhu via doctor’s stoppage, edged a decision against Jai Herbert on English soil, then broke down Ismael Bonfim for a second-round TKO. His last outing ended in a majority draw with MarQuel Mederos, a result I believe to be wrong as I thought Padilla won. Padilla works behind a tight high guard, low kicks and straight shots, and his fight IQ is comfortably his best weapon.

Nasrat Haqparast: Rebuilding after the knockout that ended his run

Nasrat Haqparast (18-6) returns after ten months out. He had assembled five straight wins – split decisions over Esteban Ribovics and Jared Gordon, decisions over John Makdessi and Landon Quinones, and a first-round finish over Jamie Mullarkey, before Quillan Salkilld took his head off with a head kick at UFC 321. Haqparast throws longer boxing combinations than most, carries fast hands and legit one-shot power, but he stays in boxing range a bit too much and his lead leg can pay for it.

Chris Padilla vs Nasrat Haqparast prediction

Padilla’s fight IQ is the through line here. He fights patient behind a high guard, mixes feints, low kicks and stabbing front body kicks to establish range, and he leaves the kicking leg out to push off anyone who wants to trade kicks with him. When he’s winning a round he can close it out in the clinch, some may call it boring, but it’s why he’s built up this impressive streak.

Range is a question in this match up. Padilla wants this at boxing range where his elbows and knees to the body do serious damage, and if the exchange resets wide he has far more low kick volume and the stabbing body teep in the open stance. Haqparast fights heavy in that same pocket, but the lead leg is there to be chopped.

Haqparast has the quicker hands and the bigger single shot power. Padilla can sit behind the guard a bit too long hunting the perfect opening, and he gets tagged by straight shots when he finally opens up. Jared Gordon proved Haqparast can be walked backwards, but that took some heavy ploddy boxing volume that Padilla doesn’t throw.

I think the tiebreaker for the close matchup is the layoff and the manner of the Salkilld finish. Haqparast may not return as the same confident self after a KO like that, plus you can get Padilla at underdog odds.

Prediction: Chris Padilla to win by decision