Violent Bob Ross painted a violent, bloody picture at UFC Greenville, earning a dazzling win over Matt Wiman.
Luis Pena didn’t fare all that well in his drop down to featherweight, missing weight for his 145lb debut. So at UFC Greenville, he was back to lightweight. A wise decision, in the end. Though he won the fight, against Steven Peterson, missing weight is never a good look. So it was back to 155lb for the towering fighter. There, he met Matt Wiman, returning to action for the first time since 2014.
Ring rust was going to be a factor. Wiman launched a kick early, but Violent Bob Ross was having none of it and quickly bullied him to the cage. With nearly the first offensive exchange, Wiman was badly bloodied, a nasty cut gushing blood over his left eye. It looked to be a knee that did the damage. The ref wanted to look at it, but Wiman waved him off saying he was fine. They resumed, and Pena tried a jump knee, knees in the clinch, standing elbows, and all sorts of nasty, creative strikes. Another flying knee attempt followed. Wiman was going to have to watch out for the kitchen sink. He’d try to move things to the ground, in an attempt to slow the pace, but Pena wound up on top, dropping ground and pound while Wiman worked, unsuccessfully, to grab a leg. More vicious ground n’ pound would follow, with Pena coming close to getting the stoppage in the first.
Painting the canvas … 👨🎨🎨#UFCGreenville @ViolentBobRoss pic.twitter.com/WUa8YjtgxI
— UFC (@ufc) June 22, 2019
A bloodied Wiman was on his back within the first minute of the second. Again, more ground n’ pound from Pena. But he backed off, letting Wiman up. Another jump knee followed. Pena was was living up to the Bob Ross name, not just in violence but in artistry. He nearly let it slip through his fingers, as Wiman transitioned to the top in a choke attempt a couple of minutes in. But Pena scrambled free, got back on top, and dropped more GNP. Wiman would scramble, squirm, look to trap a leg, and somehow survive the round, looking like a horror movie victim.
Matt Wiman was in need of a finish if he wanted a win over Luis Pena in Greenville. He needed a finish simply to avoid further punishment. He opened the third with leg kicks, but he was soon being pieced up again. He’d survive the first volley, but mercifully, the ref would wave it off before long. Pena had the win, having made a bloody statement.
Luis Pena def. Matt Winman by TKO, Round 3, 1:14
