Luis Pena narrowly edged past Alex Munoz tonight at UFC On ESPN 22 by split decision.
Round One:
Munoz with an overhand left to start. Pena taking the center of the octagon and feels out with a right hook.
Uppercut from Pena as Munoz was letting his hands go. Front kick to the body from Pena, but Munoz immediately bursts into a takedown attempt and lands it in the center of the Octagon.
Pena starts to move towards the cage and stands, but Munoz is latched onto his back. Munoz drags him down and he stands immediately.
Munoz staying tight to Pena here against the cage. Pena at least manages to turn into him and then breaks free.
Head kick attempt for Pena is blocked. Munoz staying mobile as Pena tries to land strikes from range. Pena lands a body kick. Good punch for Munoz.
Low kick for Munoz leaves Pena hopping momentarily. Another lands. Now a third calf kick for him. Jumping knee from Pena connects to the body, but Munoz gets into the clinch from it. As they break apart Pena throws another knee.
Munoz wading forward with a left and right hand. They start to trade heavy leather and Munoz getting some good punches, then Pena bursts back with a combo punctuated by a kick.
More punches from Munoz, swinging a little wildly though as he tries to get inside on the lanky Pena in the final seconds of the round.
Round Two:
Body punch for Munoz. Jab for Pena. Calf kick from Munoz. Right hand gets through for Munoz. Straight left from Pena. Now a right hook.
Body punch for Pena. Now a body kick. One-two for Pena as Munoz lands to the body. Head kick attempt from Pena just misses. Now threatening with a knee that also narrowly avoids contact.
Munoz wading forward with a few bombs and seemed to hurt Pena momentarily with one of those. Soon after he’s able to land a takedown.
Pena working hard to scramble back to his feet. Munoz presses him up against the cage. Pena able to push him off and get back to striking range.
Pena with a left hand. Body punch for Munoz. Body kick for Pena. Munoz lands another calf kick, but gets caught by a clean punch in the process.
A couple of jabs from Pena and one punch in return from Munoz. Head kick attempt from Pena. Leg kick for Munoz and then catches a kick from Pena, but can’t do too much from them.
Calf kick for Munoz. Pena missing the target and then eats another calf kick. Jab from Pena. Right hook for Munoz.
Pena’s kick whistles over Munoz head as he was ducking in. They exchange hooks in the final seconds.
Round Three:
Jab for Pena. Another connects. Body punch for Munoz. Calf kick for Munoz. Pena finally lands a calf kick of his own. One-two for Munoz.
Back to the calf kick for Munoz. Solid jab for Pena. Overhand for Munoz. Another calf kick and Pena hopped on his leg there, but then returns fire with a flying knee attempt.
Jab for Pena. Munoz targets the body. Jab for Pena again. Calf kick for Munoz. Now a left over the top. Pena with an uppercut.
Munoz with a punch to the body and then one upstairs. Kick for Pena. jab for Pena and then tries a kick, but Munoz retaliates with a takedown. Pena quickly back up though.
Another calf kick for Munoz. Pena working the jab. Knee lands for Pena, but Munoz catches it and walks him over to the cage.
Pena breaks free. Jab for Pena. Combination of strikes from Pena. Munoz fires back. Now they clinch up. They jockey for position against the cage and then beak apart.
right and a left land for Munoz. Jabs from Pena, Munoz with a one-two. Munoz presses forward and eats a jab. Left hand over the top from Munoz and we’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
Close fight then and it goes to a split decision verdict, but it’s Luis Pena who emerges with his hand raised (29-28 x2, 28-29).
