Athletes
Chris Gutierrez Embraces Entering Enemy Territory
"El Guapo" Knows What Is In Store When He Faces Frankie Edgar Inside Madison Square Garden At UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira
Chris Gutierrez is a nice guy. But for the next couple days, he might be the most unpopular man in the New York / New Jersey area. It’s the price you pay for facing local hero Frankie Edgar in his last professional fight.
“It is what it is,” said Gutierrez of being the gunslinger in the black hat on Saturday in Madison Square Garden. “It's like that sometimes.”
Actually, upon further reflection, that’s the way it’s always been for the 31-year-old bantamweight.
“I think that's how it's been my whole life,” he said. “I've always been the underdog in everything. So it's no different. It seems I always have to go into enemy territory.”
Order UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira Today!
When he says it, you get the impression that he’s comfortable in that role. Would that be accurate, or is he just dealing with the cards he’s been dealt?
“Both,” he laughs. “You embrace it, and you're just like, f**k it. At the end of the day, what option do I have?”
This is true, but in facing the former lightweight champ, Gutierrez has the chance to beat an icon of the sport on a pay-per-view main card in the Mecca of combat sports. In other words, despite sporting a 6-0-1 record in his last seven UFC fights, he is on the verge of becoming an overnight success by Sunday morning.
UFC COUNTDOWN: Full Episode | Adesanya vs Pereira | Esparza vs Zhang | Poirier vs Chandler
“I understand people are gonna think it's an overnight success if it goes my way, and I plan it to go my way, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was an overnight success,” he said. “There's years behind the scenes that were built to get to where I'm at. It's definitely not an overnight success. I know the reality of everything that went into this. I've been working at this for a while, been doing this since I was 14-15 years old and I'm 31, so it kinda shows that I've been here and I've been putting in the work and I never stopped showing up.”
Forgetting those little details is the way of the world in 2022, though, and Gutierrez, a pro since 2013, doesn’t take it personally. He doesn’t even get annoyed that he’s likely to get booed on Saturday night despite being, like Edgar, a New Jersey native.
“I know people aren't gonna like me,” said Gutierrez, who was born in Jersey City. “Hell, I'm from the east coast myself - I'm from New Jersey - so you would think it would be some kind of neutral, but I know he's gonna have a heavier crowd and that's fine. They're not gonna get in there and fight me. It's gonna be him.”
Chris Gutiérrez Gets Spinning Backfist KO In Columbus | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Daukaus
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Chris Gutiérrez Gets Spinning Backfist KO In Columbus | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Daukaus
/
Edgar has earned that love and respect from the fans, and he is just as respected by his peers, like Gutierrez.
“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a fan or never looked at his career,” said Gutierrez. “Most of us can say we've followed him throughout his career. To be where I'm at now and to be able to face a legend and a pioneer of the sport, it goes to show where I'm heading as well. I gotta make those next jumps.”
MORE UFC 281: Fight By Fight Preview | Coach's Conversation: Esparza vs Zhang | Fighters On The Rise | Free Fights | 'They Have History' | State Of The Women's Strawweight Division | Coach's Conversation: Adesanya vs Pereira
He’s earned that shot. Unbeaten since 2019, Gutierrez has been very good for a very long time. Now he has a chance to get that “name” opponent on his resume, and should he leave New York City with his hand raised, a Top 15 ranking could follow. So what has been the secret of his success over the last several years?
“The reality is, I have no choice,” he said. “No one's gonna do it for me. No one's gonna do my job for me. I take that into the cage and I'm always thinking to myself, it's just me and this guy in here, and if I let him, he's gonna take it. And if I want to do something about it, I have to do it. I can't just tag one of my teammates to come help me. I wish I could do that sometimes, but the reality is, whoever's in front of me, I have to beat or I don't move up the rankings and my dreams don't become a reality.”
That motivation can drown out a lot of boos. And Chris Gutierrez is ready for whatever awaits him this weekend. Sure, it’s Frankie Edgar, the Garden, and the prospect of being the bad guy for 15 minutes or less. But all that matters to “El Guapo” is making sure the man in the mirror takes care of business.
“I think my whole life I've been gearing up for this opportunity,” he said. “I take the time to smell the roses and appreciate everything, and, of course, it is Madison Square Garden - that's the Mecca for anyone in sports to play in that arena, so it's a dream come true. It shows the hard work and dedication that I've put into my craft to be able to get there, and I take all that in, but at the same time, I don't let it drown me. Because I still gotta go in there and do my job.”
UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira took place live from Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 12, 2022. See the Final Results, Official Scorecards, and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
