Violent Bob Ross returned to action Saturday at UFC Norfolk. And the man properly known as Luis Pena was no doubt happy just to have a fight. Pena went through a couple of opponents and actually stepped on the plane to Virginia not knowing if he had a fight. Luckily, the promotion was able to recruit Steve Garcia Jr., a longtime veteran of the regional scene who had previously competed for Bellator MMA.
Garcia, usually the taller man in his fights, was giving up several inches in height and reach in this one. Which was going to make for an interesting situation come fight time.
Garcia, quickly wanting to make a name for himself, was firing right out of the gate in this one. Doubling with right jabs followed by left hands. Garcia caught the leg of Pena and dumped him to the mat but Pena would scramble and take the back. Pena sat on the back controlling for the remainder of the round (and much of the fight) staying active landing punches and elbows. A dominant round one from Luis Pena.
In the second, Garcia came out running at Pena with a superman punch and punches going for broke. Pena again though would take the back and get the fight to the mat. The only real offense Garcia Jr. was able to pull off was landing some elbows to the thigh of Pena as Pena controlled the back. As in round one, Pena ended the round on the back of Garcia Jr. — yet another dominant round.
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After a wild start in round three Garcia ended up back on the mat but he had a tight triangle locked in. Pena hung in there and eventually escaped the lock and took the back, where he had been dominant. There was not much left from Garcia Jr. in the final frame as Pena controlled the rest, and spent the majority of the fight on the back of Garcia Jr.
Official Result: Luis Pena def. Steve Garcia Jr by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
