Fighter's Biography

Training:

Full MMA training at Fight Fit Militia under Norman Wessels and Richard Quan.

When and why did you start training for fighting?

I started MMA in 2005 but I had Muay Thai experience and also trained Shaolin Kung Fu, as well as some karate and judo. I started MMA after an experience in high school; I was messing around with a few friends, testing my fighting skills and got armbarred. I was so fascinated that a relatively weak guy could submit me.

Accomplishments in pro or amateur competition:

Amateur MMA record of 4-1 as well as collecting amateur titles in grappling: SASCA grappling champion in my weight class in November 2010, and undefeated in amateur Muay Thai, 6 wins.

Other interesting info?

My father, General Arlindo "Ben Ben" Pena, Army General of the Angolan rebel movement UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) came to SA in 1998 after being poisoned during the Angolan civil war. Unfortunately he passed away, but my mother decided that South Africa would be a good place to live and we moved here shortly afterwards. And my grandfather was one of the greatest masterminds of the 20th century, Jonas Malheiro Savimbi. He died in 2002 (shot dead).

What do you do when not training or fighting?

Spend time with my girlfriend, the love of my life. Or I watch Muay Thai or MMA fights, or martial arts movies.

What does it mean for you to fight in EFC AFRICA?

I believe my future with EFC AFRICA is very bright. I believe one day I'll become the champion- and remain for a very long time!

What was your job before you started fighting?

Student – Bcom entrepreneurship, which I gave up to pursue a professional MMA career. I want to be the best at what I have put my mind to.

Fighting Mawande Mazithambe at EFC AFRICA 07:

I was notified about the fight on the Tuesday, for it to take place on the Thursday. Short notice wasn’t a problem because I’m always fit and ready and besides, in the amateur ranks you never know who you’re fighting; you just take who they give you on the day. I had a plan that I stuck to and it worked out perfectly. As Mawande reacted to my jab I took him down, kept him there and hit him, and as he gave up his back I knew I could finish the fight right there.

Fighting Jean-Luc Kazadi at EFC AFRICA 08:

It was a good technical fight; I went into the fight knowing a lot about my opponent. We did a lot of research and we got to know him well. We came up with a great game-plan and it worked out perfectly. The biggest problem was that I over-trained for the fight and I gassed-out going into half way of the second round, but I knew that I won that round as well and the last round. My corner-men told me to just hold on for the last round and I won due to my superior takedown ability, ground & pound and overall grappling. Jean Luc is a good fighter, as he almost caught me in a submission, but I went into the fight with the mentality that if I was choked, I would rather pass-out than tap.