Luis Pena Charged with Punching Girlfriend, Breaking Phone in Alleged Assault

More details have emerged surrounding the arrest of UFC veteran Luis Pena last weekend.

According to an affadavit from the Boca Raton Police Department, Pena was charged with robbery by sudden snatching, battery and criminal mischief following a fight with his girlfriend on June 14. The fighter known as “Violent Bob Ross” is currently in Broward County Detention Center, where he awaits transport to Palm Beach County. ESPN was first to report the new details in the case.

Pena allegedly smashed the woman’s phone on the ground after accusing her of looking at other men on Instagram. Pena’s girlfriend told police that a fight then ensued in which she ended up with a laceration on her lip along with scratches and redness on her knuckles.

Boca Raton Police received an anonymous tip that night that Pena was suicidal, in possession of a gun and knife and was planning to return to his girlfriend’s home to kill her. Pena refused to provide a statement when contacted by authorities, instead opting to hire a lawyer for a future meeting.

In a follow-up interview with Pena’s girlfriend on June 15, the woman claimed that Pena punched her in the head when she asked him to leave, but she refused to let police see the lump that the blow allegedly caused. She also claimed Pena had a gun and threatened to kill himself during a Facetime session a few weeks earlier.

Pena is being held without bail because he was arrested in Broward County, and he needs to be transported to see a judge in Palm Beach Country before he is granted bail. Pena’s attorney, Daniel Martinez, told ESPN that the entire situation is “much ado about nothing” and wants to have the fighter transported as soon as possible.

"Luis, as many other fighters do, need help and not punishment," Martinez told ESPN. "Fighters have a very difficult job. They get hit in the head. We don't know what the long-term effects are.”

Pena recently authored a couple posts on social media about his battle with mental health issues. the 27-year-old Pena has compiled a 5-3 record in the Octagon since beginning his promotional tenure in July 2018. He last competed on April 17, when he took a split decision against Alex Munoz at UFC on ESPN 22. The UFC is currently investigating the situation and will not schedule a fight for Pena until it receives more information on the case, according to the ESPN report.