UFC fighter Luis Pena was arrested Saturday on two battery charges after allegedly hitting his girlfriend and another woman, according to a Broward County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
Pena remains in custody at Broward County (Florida) Detention Center on charges of simple battery and battery domestic violence, both misdemeanors. He is being held on $6,000 bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit obtained by ESPN from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Pena is accused of “intentionally” striking his girlfriend in the face “multiple times” with a closed fist. Pena, per the affidavit, continued to strike his girlfriend while she was on the ground. Pena’s girlfriend had minor abrasions on the top of her left wrist, abrasions on her left wrist and an alleged bite mark on her left knee region.
Another woman witnessed the alleged attack and attempted to stop it. Pena, according to the affidavit, struck the other woman in the left eye with a closed fist, causing a purple contusion to the eye region. After being hit, the woman fell to the ground, causing a laceration of her right elbow.
The two women provided sworn statements regarding the incident and officers took photographs of the injuries. The women’s names were redacted by law enforcement, per Florida law.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Gerdy St. Louis told ESPN that deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call in Deerfield Beach, Florida, at about 12:34 a.m. Saturday. Pena’s attorney, Daniel Martinez, said “it is premature to make any statements on behalf of my client, so I respectfully decline to comment at this time.”
The UFC, through a spokesperson, also declined comment on Pena’s arrest Saturday.
Back in June, the 28-year-old Pena was arrested on charges of robbery by sudden snatching, battery and criminal mischief after a fight with his girlfriend, according to a Coral Springs (Florida) Police Department spokesperson. The robbery by sudden snatching charge has been dropped, but Pena is still facing charges of battery and criminal mischief in Florida’s Palm Beach County.
Pena has pleaded not guilty to both misdemeanor charges and has a court date scheduled for Oct. 28. On Aug. 30, Pena’s girlfriend filed an affidavit in the June case requesting the charges be dismissed, according to court records.
Pena is 9-3 as a pro MMA fighter with a 5-3 UFC record. He has not fought since April and is not currently booked for another bout.