Luis Pena defeated Steven Peterson by unanimous decision tonight at UFC Fight Night 148.
Round One:
Peterson putting his head down and wading in strongly to start with kicks and punches, pressing him back to the cage where he clinches up.
Peterson looking for an early takedown here, getting hold of a single-leg, but for now Pena stays upright.
Stevenson gets the takedown, but Pena is already threatening with a submission attempt. Back up again and now Pena is again looking for a kimura then they scramble and he ends up on top, but with Peterson locking up an armbar. Pena stacks him up and drops him down on his head then breaks free from the submission.
Pena working on top now. He’s looking for punches then settles into the guard. Stevenson able to get back up, but eats a punch that staggers him backwards as he does so. Pena into the clinch looking for elbows and knees now.
Pena trying for a takedown but doesn’t get it. Peterson gets back to his striking, again keeping his head low as he comes forward with punches, but Pena tries a flying knee to the head.
Punches and kicks for Peterson. Solid one-two for Pena though. Left hook for Peterson. Pena clinches, but Peterson drives him into the cage.
Peterson looking for a takedown now. He lands a few punches, but Pena blasts a knee upstairs that connects then throws punches.
Round Two:
Both men trade in close to start the second round. Nice elbows from Pena. One-two for Pena. Peterson with punches of his own into a takedown attempt and lands it.
Pena stands back up, but Peterson latches onto his back as he does so. However Pena manages to shake him off fairly quickly and then starts letting his hands go.
Right hook lands clean for Pena, but then Peterson scores with an overhand. Pena clinching up against the cage now, but Peterson reverses it.
Peterson lands a takedown, but Pena is soon back up. Peterson in for the takedown again and lands it. They scramble and Pena stands with Peterson again latched onto his back.
Peterson comes down but remains clinched to his back. Nice elbow strike from Pena. Peterson moves to Pena’s front now, but soon after Pena gets free and blasts him with a big strike that stops him in his tracks for a split second.
Pena landing some nice strikes now. Another hard strike lands. Peterson with a spinning backfist though. Kick to the body from Pena.
Peterson back into the clinch against the cage looking for a takedown. Pena working a kimura then uses that to reverse the position and press Peterson against the cage.
Uppercuts from Pena then they break apart and Pena keeps swinging, landing a few more punches before the round ends.
Round Three:
Peterson with his chin to his chest marching forward to start and looks for the clinch, but it’s Pena who gets it against the cage. They move apart and Pena starts to land good strikes from range.
Peterson doesn’t like this and goes back to the clinch against the cage and lands a takedown, but Pena gets on top instead.
Peterson back up and they look to engage. Knee from Pena and then a punch from Peterson. Peterson lands a leg kick and then back to the clinch.
Pena threatening with the kimura. He goes to the mat with it and tries to crank it, but Peterson ends up on top with half the round remaining.
Beautiful transition from Pena to roll on top. Pena in Peterson’s guard here. Peterson lands a few elbows from his back. Peterson threatens with an armbar, but Pena shrugs it off.
Now Peterson thinking about a leg lock. Pena moving to side control with knee-on-belly, but Peterson gets back to guard and stands up. Pena lands a kick upstairs as they get upright.
Peterson goes straight back into the clinch. Pena manages to take his back then goes to the front, pressing Peterson against the cage. He tries for a takedown but doesn’t get it and instead lands a few punches to end the round.
Decision:
Gritty performance from both men here, but it was Pena who clearly had the edge with his striking from range and crafty grappling, which helps him earn a clean sweep on the scorecards (30-27 x3).
