Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy added to UFC event on June 27

Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy has been added to the UFC’s June 27 event in Las Vegas.

The UFC’s June lineup continues to grow.

A lightweight fight between [autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag] and [autotag]Khama Worthy[/autotag] is the latest addition to the June 27 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Pena (8-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) most recently competed at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in February, defeating promotional newcomer Steve Garcia by unanimous decision. Pena has won three of his most recent four outings, also defeating Matt Wiman and Steven Peterson.

As for Worthy (15-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), the 33-year-old lightweight fighter has not competed since his knockout of Devonte Smith in his promotional debut at UFC 241 in August. The victory was one of 2019’s biggest upsets according to the oddsmakers. Worthy is currently riding a six-fight winning streak with three finishes in that stretch.

With the addition, the UFC’s June 27 lineup now includes:

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
  • Aspen Ladd vs. Sara McMann
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Jennifer Maia
  • Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim
  • Maurice Greene vs. Gian Villante
  • Tanner Boser vs. Philipe Lins
  • Brendan Allen vs. Ian Heinisch
  • Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy

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Luis Pena: ‘I wouldn’t want to watch’ my UFC Norfolk win over Steve Garcia

Take a look inside Luis Pena’s win over Steve Garcia at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.

NORFOLK, Va. – [autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag] beat Steve Garcia with a unanimous decision Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.

Take a look inside the fight with Pena, who got back in the win column and has won three of his past four.

Result: Luis Pena def. Steve Garcia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Pena (8-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Garcia (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stat: Garcia outstruck Pena 89-27, but it was Pena’s control on the canvas that appeared to win over the judges.

Pena on the fight’s key moment

“There was definitely a time when I had his back that I thought, ‘Forget this. Let me push off and stand this thing up and bang.’ But then I got back in myself and focused on winning. As much as I want to entertain, I want to win and I need to make that money.”

Pena on an opponent switch early in fight week

“As much as I’d like to say that the last-minute change in opponents messed with me, once I got in there it was just a fight. It was a big stylistic change, and we had to redo the game plan on the fly, but I can’t use that as an excuse.”

Pena on putting on a show next time

“I’m happy with the win, but that’s not the way that I like to do it. This is my job, this is my career, and I want to put on a show for the fans. Sometimes, when you are in that situation, you have to do what you have to do. But I’m an entertainer. I go out there and put on a show for my fans. I like when people tell me that they like watching me fight, and I wouldn’t want to watch that fight.”

To hear more from Pena, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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5 biggest takeaways from UFC on ESPN+ 27: Sorting out the flyweight mess and more

Thoughts and analysis on the biggest storylines to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 27, where Deiveson Figueiredo won the main event by TKO.

What mattered most at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.? Here are a few post-fight musings …

* * * * *

1. The flyweight mess

The UFC flyweight division endured its worst-case scenario with [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) stopping [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) with strikes in the second round of the main event, thus keeping the title vacant because the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5 pounds for the contest, making him ineligible to claim the belt.

Figueiredo is a good fighter and went out there and performed as he needed to under the circumstances, but his win puts the weight class in a troublesome state going forward. From Day 1, when one of the inaugural 125-pound bouts between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall was improperly scored, the weight class has not gotten off the ground in a way anyone had hoped.

From Johnson’s inability to get over with the casual audience, to Henry Cejudo’s decision to relinquish the strap, to this situation with Figueiredo, it’s been challenge after challenge. The UFC has as good an excuse as ever now to put the death blow on the weight class and dissolve it all together, but I don’t think that will happen just yet. Only time will tell, though.

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UFC on ESPN+ 27 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Deiveson Figueiredo’s pay downgraded after missing weight

UFC on ESPN+ 27 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

NORFOLK, Va. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $119,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN+ 27 took place Saturday at Chartway Arena. The entire card streamed ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN+ 27 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag]: $30,000

[autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Zarah Fairn[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Megan Anderson[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Kyler Phillips[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Gabriel Silva[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Tom Breese[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jordan Griffin[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]TJ Brown[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Aalon Cruz[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Ismail Naurdiev[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $826,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $31,831,000

Fight Tracks: The walkout songs of UFC on ESPN+ 27 with Queen, Steppenwolf, Chili Peppers

Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event in Norfolk, Va.

While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.

Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN+ 27 went with as their backing tracks in Norfolk, Va.

Luis Pena switched from AKA to ATT ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 27: ‘Something really clicked’

Luis Pena made a significant change in training camp ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 27.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – [autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag] made a significant change in training camp ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 27, and he said the move has taken his confidence to another level.

Pena (7-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), who meets Steve Garcia (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout on Saturday, relocated from American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., to American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla. It was a dramatic shift across the country, but the decision has done wonders for his happiness.

“I switched camps from AKA to American Top Team,” Pena told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “Not because of anything bad at AKA, it was just financially. Living in Silicon Valley is very, very expensive. Talking to my managers about what to do to kind of mitigate that they had brought up the possibility of moving to Florida. I talked to my coaches at AKA about it and told them the situation and they gave me their blessing to kind of do what I had to do. Now I’m at American Top Team and it’s been a lot easier for me. I don’t have to focus on anything other than showing up and training.”

Trimming down all possible distractions has produced immediate results for Pena, he said. He wasn’t sure how it would all pan out, but he feels his level of skill has taken a quite the boost, and Pena likened himself to a “2009 Anderson Silva,” the former longtime UFC champ.

“Something really clicked,” Pena said. “I don’t know if it was the actual environment of California compared to Florida, the weather or something. Ever since I’ve got to Florida there’s just been something different. I feel 10 times better when I train, I feel super, super motivated to get up every day, cook breakfast, go through all the supplements and everything.”

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The transition has been made easier for Pena because of the familiar faces at ATT. He said he spent three months training at the gym prior to his professional debut in 2016, and he also has a bond with one of the team’s premier coaches, Muhammed Lawal, who will be in his corner on the card, which takes place at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va., and streams on ESPN+.

“I was real close to ‘King Mo’ beforehand, so there wasn’t really an adjustment period so much as me just getting used to the way they do things and being part of their team,” Pena said. “They’re a lot more hands on with the way they control the fighter schedules and everything like that. It took me a little while to get used to that, because at AKA it’s pretty much on you, the onus is on you to get all that figured out. But I can’t lie: I do appreciate everything the coaches do at ATT to help us out and take care of us pretty much 24/7.”

The comfort level with his new team has Pena at ease going into fight night. That’s despite a turbulent lead-up to the card, where his opponent has been switched twice. He ultimately landed with Garcia, who took the fight on five days’ notice. Pena isn’t stressing, though, because he said his plan remains all the same.

“I’m going to go in there and do what I do,” Pena said. “I’m going to go in there and be ‘Violent Bob Ross’ like always.”

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UFC on ESPN+ 27: Luis Pena media day interview

Luis Pena talks with members of media ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 27

Luis Pena talks with members of media ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 27

Steve Garcia replaces Alex Munoz, takes on Luis Pena at UFC on ESPN+ 27

On days’ notice, Steve Garcia has stepped in to take on Luis Pena at UFC on ESPN+ 27 after Alex Munoz withdrew due to injury.

[autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag] won’t be facing Alex Munoz at UFC on ESPN+ 27.

Luckily for “Violent Bob Ross,” a UFC newcomer has stepped up and accepted the lightweight fight in Norfolk, Va. On days’ notice, [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag] has stepped in to take on Pena (7-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), after Munoz withdrew Friday due to injury.

Two persons with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Monday, but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+.

On the most recent season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Garcia (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) accepted a bantamweight fight, but missed the mark on the scale. He won the fight by TKO, but was not signed due to his weight cut mishap. Since that time, Garcia moved to featherweight and defeated Jose Mariscal by second-round TKO at LFA 80.

With the change, the current UFC on ESPN+ 27 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – for vacant flyweight title
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Felicia Spencer
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont
  • Grant Dawson vs. Darrick Minner
  • Kyler Phillips vs. Gabriel Silva

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Brendan Allen vs. Tom Breese
  • Steve Garcia vs. Luis Pena
  • Serghei Spivac vs. Marcin Tybura
  • TJ Brown vs. Jordan Griffin
  • Spike Carlyle vs. Aalon Cruz
  • Sean Brady vs. Ismail Naurdiev

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Alex Munoz forced out at UFC Norfolk, Luis Pena needs new opponent

An undefeated Team Alpha Male prospect, Alex Munoz was expected to make his promotional debut against Luis Pena.

[autotag]Alex Munoz[/autotag] won’t be competing at UFC on ESPN+ 27.

An undefeated Team Alpha Male prospect, Munoz (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was expected to make his promotional debut against [autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag]. However, an injury has forced the highly touted wrestling-based lightweight from the bout, MMA Junkie today confirmed with UFC officials.

UFC execs are now hoping Pena (7-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will remain on next week’s card against a different opponent and are currently seeking candidates. UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Feb. 29 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va., and streams on ESPN+.

Munoz, 29, was signed on the most recent episode of “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” after defeating fellow top prospect Troy Lamson. Team Alpha Male’s wrestling coach, Munoz also holds a dominant decision victory over Nick Newell on “Dana White’s Contender Series.”

A timetable for his return wasn’t immediately established.

With the change, the current UFC on ESPN+ 27 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – for vacant flyweight title
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Felicia Spencer
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont
  • Grant Dawson vs. Darrick Minner
  • Kyler Phillips vs. Gabriel Silva

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Brendan Allen vs. Tom Breese
  • Luis Pena vs. TBA
  • Serghei Spivac vs. Marcin Tybura
  • T.J. Brown vs. Jordan Griffin
  • Spike Carlyle vs. Aalon Cruz
  • Sean Brady vs. Ismail Naurdiev

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Luis Pena vs. Alex Munoz set for UFC on ESPN+ 27

“Violent Bob Ross” returns to action, as he meets a debuting Team Alpha Male competitor in Norfolk.

The UFC on ESPN+ 27 lineup is growing.

A lightweight matchup between “Violent Bob Ross” [autotag]Luis Pena[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Munoz[/autotag] is set for the Feb. 29 event in Norfolk, Va.

The UFC announced the bout Tuesday via Twitter.

Pena (7-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) most recently competed in October in Tampa, Fla. against Matt Frevola. While many people scored the fight in Pena’s favor, the 26-year-old fighter dropped a split decision.

For Munoz (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the Team Alpha Male wrestling coach will be making his promotional debut. After defeating Nick Newell on Dana White’s Contender Series in July 2018, Munoz won an unanimous decision against Troy Lamson in front of the UFC brass in October.

The victory earned him a contract from UFC president Dana White, who was in attendance for the filming of “Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight.”

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UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Feb. 29 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card will stream on ESPN+.

The latest UFC on ESPN+ 27 lineup now includes:

  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – for vacant flyweight title
  • Mickey Gall vs. Alex Oliveira
  • Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Felicia Spencer
  • Kyler Phillips vs. Gabriel Silva
  • Brendan Allen vs. Tom Breese
  • Sean Brady vs. Ismail Naurdiev
  • Aalon Cruz vs. Steven Peterson
  • T.J. Brown vs. Jordan Griffin
  • Alex Munoz vs. Luis Pena

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