LAS VEGAS – Luis Pena thinks he’s yet to live up to his full potential but is confident that will change at UFC on ESPN 22.
Pena (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) meets Alexander Munoz (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex, which airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
Pena has had mixed results since emerging as a highly touted prospect from “The Ultimate Fighter 27.” He’s had to do most of his growing up in the octagon and feels he is now ready to make a run in the UFC’s lightweight division. Training with top-level talent at American Top Team, Pena said he took plenty of valuable lessons while helping Dustin Poirier prepare for Conor McGregor at UFC 257.
“I think my performance is going to make the statement for itself, no matter what,” Pena told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s media session at the UFC Apex. “I came into the UFC at 4-0. A lot of hype around me because of the name, the hair, all that good stuff. I had a good performance at ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and there was a lot of hype. A lot of people put a lot of pressure on me, and I’ve been having to grow in my career in the UFC. There’s not too many people that have that chance, and I think for once, people are going to see the ‘Violent Bob Ross’ they’ve always been waiting for in this fight. Trust me.
“My coaches at American Top Team said this last camp, they’ve never seen me as sharp, as focused and just as leveled up as I am. Getting to work with Dustin for the Conor McGregor fight was really eye opening. Watching Dustin do what he did to Conor truly raised my confidence in myself because that sh*t didn’t happen to me in the training room. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to show people this is ‘Violent Bob Ross” era. He’s going to make that run.”
He takes on former Oklahoma State wrestler Munoz, who’s served as Team Alpha Male’s wrestling coach. Pena said he is aware of Munoz’s grappling credentials and therefore isn’t taking him lightly.
“It’s a big opportunity for me to show people that A, you might have a better wrestling pedigree than me, but you’re ain’t going to be able to do it to me and B, I’m complete everywhere,” Pena said. “So I’m taking this very, very seriously just because of Alex’s pedigree and all that.”
To see the full interview with Pena, check out the video above.
Luis Pena: People will see ‘Violent Bob Ross’ they’ve been waiting for at UFC on ESPN 22