The UFC has severed ties with lightweight fighter Luis Pena after learning the disturbing details of Pena recent domestic violence arrest. Pena was released from his contract by the fight promotion on Tuesday.
Pena was arrested on Saturday in Deerfield Beach, Fla., on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and simple battery. He was detained at the Broward County Jail. The police report of the incident was made public revealing a hair-raising series of events.
According to the report made by the arresting officer, Pena allegedly struck his girlfriend and another women repeatedly. Once the report was made public and the details known, the UFC immediately terminated Pena.
“UFC is aware of the disturbing allegations concerning the recent arrest of Luis Pena,” UFC officials said in a statement provided to TMZ. “Mr. Pena has been open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues and the organization has on multiple prior occasions attempted to help him get professional treatment.
“At this time, UFC believes Mr. Pena needs to deal with the health and legal issues in front of him, and consequently has informed Mr. Pena’s management that his promotional agreement has been terminated.”
Disturbing details in Luis Pena domestic violence arrest revealed
Following Dana White’s Contenders Series event on Tuesday, UFC president Dana White addressed Pena’s arrest and termination during the event’s post-fight press conference.
“This was a bad case and we knew that he had problems before that we were trying to help him with,” White said. “This is a pretty nasty one. I don’t know if you guys read the police report, but yeah, this one had to happen.”
Pena participated in the 27th season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2018. He won his quarterfinal bout, but suffered a foot injury and was unable to compete for the rest of the season. He was promised a spot on the season finale fight card and won via submission. Pena fought eight times under the UFC banner winning five of them. He last fought in April defeating Alexander Munoz by split decision.
Chuck Liddell releases statement following arrest in Los Angeles
UFC releases Luis Pena after learning the disturbing details of his domestic violence arrest
