Luis Pena gets his wish, as he’ll face off against TUF 27 winner Mike Trizano at UFC Denver.
‘Violent Bob Ross,’ as Luis Pena is otherwise known, didn’t get the run he wanted on The Ultimate Fighter 27. Injury scuttled his run on the show — though he got to show his skills at the finale, and in a big way. Now, Pena is getting the fight he’s been calling for pretty much since that night, as he’ll meet TUF 27 winner Mike Trizano at UFC Denver later this year.
The Denver Post first reported the news, as well as a booking between light heavyweights Alonzo Menifield and Saparbeg Safarov.
Pena (6-0) remains undefeated in his pro career, playing into the theme of the fight. TUF 27, after all, was subtitled Undefeated, with all contestants entering the TUF house with unblemished records. Trizano, winning the lightweight bracket, remains undefeated as well. Pena, meanwhile, defeated Richie Smullen at the TUF 27 Finale in July via a first round submission.
Trizano (7-0) defeated Joe Giannetti (who was subsequently released) to win the TUF 27 contract. Prior to winning his way into the UFC, Trizano had appeared for Ring of Combat and Bellator MMA.
Heading into the season, Pena was one of the favorites to win the show.
UFC Denver (UFC Fight Night 139) takes place November 10, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Frankie Edgar meets the Korean Zombie in the main event.
