Chris Gutierrez looking to climb ranks ahead of Song Yadong UFC Bantamweight fight
Chris Gutierrez looking to climb ranks ahead of Song Yadong UFC Bantamweight fight
Chris Gutierrez (20-4-2, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) aims to deliver a quick finish of Song
o No. 15 ranked UFC bantamweight
o Nine wins by knockout, one wins via submission
o Four first-round finishes
Chris Gutierrez (20-4-2, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) aims to deliver a quick finish of Song
o No. 15 ranked UFC bantamweight
o Nine wins by knockout, one wins via submission
o Four first-round finishes
Category
🥇
SportTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Hey Chris, welcome back to Vegas.
00:11 How are you feeling?
00:12 >> Thank you, it feels good to be back.
00:14 >> Does it feel different being a main event?
00:15 >> Just getting a little bit more media.
00:20 Other than that, and the reality that it's two more rounds, it's all the same.
00:25 >> How different was your training camp, if at all, for that?
00:27 >> Yes and no, a little bit different, not too much.
00:37 We've always been training for five round fights.
00:40 That's what our strength coach is and everything.
00:43 We're all striving for the five round fights.
00:45 So in essence, I was almost getting ready for that no matter what.
00:49 So it just highlighted it more.
00:51 >> The card was originally supposed to be in China, now it's here in Vegas.
00:55 Is there a little bit of relief that you're kinda on your own home turf this time?
00:59 >> Yeah, I mean, it would have been a beautiful experience to experience
01:05 the Chinese culture in person.
01:07 That would have been a nice experience.
01:12 But given the fact that we weren't able to do it and it's here,
01:17 yeah, I'm not gonna get mad over that 15 hour plane trip that we don't have to do.
01:22 >> And you probably have to pay less taxes, I would imagine, too, right?
01:25 >> Correct, yeah, they're like 30, 40% in taxes, not good.
01:29 >> What do you think of the matchup?
01:33 >> I think it's a good matchup.
01:36 It's a tough task at both ends, but I'm well prepared.
01:42 I have a good team behind me, a good support system.
01:45 And I believe I have the tools to win.
01:47 >> And right now you're the underdog.
01:49 Does that give you a little bit more pressure or
01:51 does that give you a little bit of more motivation?
01:54 >> Been the underdog my whole life and everything I've done.
01:57 It's no different.
01:58 >> And how do you spend the end of the year after this fight?
02:02 How are you gonna spend the rest of the year?
02:03 >> Just be with my family, be with my lady, see my parents.
02:10 All the efforts still go to me, still trying to see my son,
02:15 who's still alienated out of my life.
02:17 So that's still an uphill battle, so still got that going as well.
02:22 >> And going into 2024, how would a win on Saturday night
02:27 kind of propel you for 2024?
02:29 >> I think it pushes me closer to a title fight.
02:37 So I think I bring something exciting to the division,
02:42 a different style, a different meaning to it.
02:47 So yeah, I'm excited, I'm blessed to be here.
02:49 >> Thank you.
02:50 >> Thank you.
02:51 >> Fighting two Chinese fighters back to back, what's up?
02:53 >> I don't know.
02:54 [LAUGH] I don't think they like the first one.
02:59 So they gave me a second one.
03:00 Yeah, it is what it is.
03:02 >> Now that you've had some time to digest,
03:06 how important was that win over Alitang in October?
03:09 It wasn't your first year, it was your first win in a while.
03:13 And I know that one kind of stung you, so
03:17 how nice was it to get back in the win column?
03:20 >> Of course, especially in a sport where you're judged by your last fight.
03:24 You can win, it's not like soccer where you have 100 plus games a season and
03:30 you lose 10 and they don't care, they almost forgot.
03:33 In fighting, you can win 10 fights and you lose one and you suck and
03:37 you should just give up and the world hates you and has an opinion on you.
03:43 Yeah, I mean, it felt good to get back in the win column, of course.
03:50 Reality is your job's always on the line, so you gotta win.
03:57 >> Did you feel that backlash from the fans, from your fellow fighters that
04:00 you're out on this win streak and then you get this big step up, you lose.
04:04 Then everyone just forgets about your win streak that you were just on.
04:07 >> Yeah, of course.
04:08 I'm not gonna sit here and lie to you guys and say that, no.
04:12 Yeah, I got a lot of shit talked to me online because of that.
04:17 But I didn't pay attention to it.
04:19 I had to refocus and change some things up and
04:24 I believe I was able to do that and showcase that in my last fight.
04:28 >> Obviously, there are arguments that you have the best leg kicks in the UFC.
04:34 Are those gonna be one of your biggest weapons this Saturday to slow Song down,
04:39 slow his power down, slow his movement down?
04:42 >> Yeah, of course, if he leaves his leg out there, I'll take it.
04:44 Reality is he's gonna try to punch a hole through my face,
04:49 I'm gonna try to kick a hole through his face.
04:51 So that's the reality.
04:54 We two good strikers meeting in two different styles clashing.
05:00 It's a, I don't know, to me, I look at it as it's a beautiful thing.
05:02 >> And it's been a nice few weeks for Factory X.
05:07 Last week, Cody got a big win, he really needed your next main event.
05:11 Brandon, next week, just how does it feel representing Factory X and
05:16 just having the kind of high that you guys are on right now?
05:18 >> It's a beautiful thing.
05:22 I was saying it earlier.
05:23 It's nice to be around people that you can see doing well in their personal life and
05:29 then changing their lives and their career.
05:32 So I've been able to watch two of my teammates,
05:38 Jonathan Yusuf, change their lives and do great things.
05:41 And to watch Cody go, his last fight, and
05:47 then to go and slam someone and get a bonus.
05:50 And then kind of rewrite that wrong and
05:53 just see him bettering his life physically, financially, and spiritually.
06:01 I just think it's a beautiful thing to watch.
06:04 We're watching ourselves change our lives every day.
06:08 >> And finally, I asked you in October, I'm sure your hasn't changed, but
06:14 Brandon Royval, is he bringing back the title to Factory X?
06:17 >> Yeah, yeah, it's not changing.
06:18 Yeah, Colorado's gonna have a new flyweight champion.
06:21 >> Awesome, thanks, Chris.
06:22 >> How's it different headlining a UFC card as opposed to in the past when you
06:26 headline LFA?
06:27 How's this week been different?
06:28 Maybe just in terms of how you deal with this event and
06:31 where you are in your career to where it was back then.
06:33 >> Can you repeat it?
06:39 >> This event, obviously headlining first time in the UFC, big, big major thing.
06:43 But you've been there before, you've headlined at events before.
06:46 How is it different to feel going into this fight week as opposed to maybe it was
06:50 back in LFA when maybe it was like some of the first times when you're going up for
06:53 a headline main event?
06:55 >> The UFC is the biggest promotion, the best fighters in the world.
06:59 So it's like being in the World Cup or the NFL.
07:05 You finally make it and now you're fighting for
07:08 a chance to play in the finals, and that's how I look at it.
07:11 And so it's not different, but it is.
07:16 It's just my first main event in the UFC, so it's uncharted territory for me.
07:23 And it's almost a scary feeling in a way.
07:25 And I'm okay with admitting that.
07:27 But I'm not here by luck.
07:31 I'm not here because I was given chance after chance.
07:34 I literally fought and clawed my way to be where I'm at.
07:38 And so I can rest on that.
07:40 I don't cheat my way.
07:42 I don't take shortcuts.
07:44 And so I'm happy where I'm at.
07:47 I haven't said that in a while, but I'm happy.
07:51 >> At what point of fight night, not the scaredness,
07:54 cuz I know none of you guys are scared, but at what point in the night
07:57 do the jitters go away?
07:58 What time does the nervousness go away?
07:59 At what point?
08:00 >> Who says they're not scared?
08:01 That's the biggest bullshit.
08:04 People are, you know what, maybe I can't speak for everybody.
08:08 But I'm scared shitless.
08:11 It's just the reality, right?
08:12 You're putting yourself in a very vulnerable position.
08:14 You're going out there to fight half naked and find millions of people.
08:20 And the world is just, unfortunately,
08:23 we live in a world where people are just waiting for your downfall.
08:25 And everyone's got an opinion of you.
08:29 So we're putting ourselves in a very vulnerable position.
08:32 So to say you're not afraid,
08:33 I think that's almost you trying to mask something.
08:36 No, I accept it.
08:37 I think the difference is I know who I am as a person.
08:43 I know where I come from.
08:44 I know the task at hand, and I know what I'm here to do.
08:47 And I know the goal I'm after.
08:50 I know where I wanna be in life.
08:54 And this is just another opportunity to get there.
08:58 It's a tough task, but it's a tough one for him too.
09:02 >> Just to go off of that, what is the goal in life?
09:04 Where is that dream?
09:05 Where is that end point where you see yourself, that you're working,
09:08 doing all this hard work for?
09:10 What is that point?
09:10 >> Just striving to be a better man.
09:18 I just, being a better man, doing better things,
09:21 just not giving in to all the bullshit.
09:24 And just trying to change a generational curse.
09:30 That's for me.
09:32 That's where I see myself is.
09:34 I just wanna have my faith better with God.
09:36 My relationship better with my parents, my brothers, my lady, my friends,
09:42 my coaches.
09:43 Always striving to just be a better person for myself so
09:46 I can be a better person for the people that need me.
09:48 >> That's awesome.
09:49 When you look on paper, you got a lot of TKO finish.
09:52 You got a lot of KO finishes.
09:53 He's got a lot of KO finishes.
09:54 He's got a lot of TKO.
09:55 Is there any possibility this fight gets to the ground?
09:58 And should it happen, who's got the better skill set on the ground?
10:02 >> I guess we'll have to see, right?
10:04 I mean, yeah, we both like to strike.
10:09 We both like to stand.
10:10 But I'm a mixed martial artist at the end of the day.
10:14 If we have to go to the mat, so be it.
10:18 It's not like I'm a stranger down there.
10:19 It'd be interesting.
10:22 It'd be interesting to test our skills out in all aspects.
10:26 So that's why I said, sport's very beautiful because you learn a lot
10:31 about yourself after every camp, after every fight.
10:34 So yeah, it'd be nice to see what transpires in the fight.
10:41 >> Last thing for me, I'm sure you visualized the end to this fight.
10:44 But what are the keys to the victory for you?
10:46 What needs to happen on Saturday to make sure that you get your arms raised?
10:49 >> Stay focused, stay present, and just be where my feet are at all times.
10:57 And have the courage that I need when the time is right.
11:05 So.
11:06 >> I love that phrase, be where the feet are.
11:10 Can you kind of elaborate on that?
11:11 Is it just about staying in the present,
11:12 staying in the moment, not getting out of your head?
11:14 Or elaborate on that for me.
11:16 >> Yeah, just being in tune where you are, being focused,
11:21 being 100% where you're at.
11:23 I think, like I said, I've seen, to be where I'm at, man, I'm so blessed to be here.
11:30 Cuz like I said, many dream, but many will never get this opportunity.
11:35 And so I've seen people come and go.
11:36 So I don't take it for granted.
11:41 So that's why I'm all in, I'm present, and I'm excited, I'm excited.
11:48 >> Best of luck on Saturday.
11:49 >> Thank you.
11:49 >> Chris right here.
11:50 Obviously talking about fear, emotions, everything pulling at your mind.
11:55 On Instagram you had posted something about controlling your mind over your
11:58 emotions.
11:59 With everything, with all that being said, how do you fortify your mind,
12:03 considering this being your biggest opportunity yet?
12:05 >> Say that last part again.
12:08 >> How have you fortified your mind through this process,
12:10 considering this is possibly your biggest opportunity yet in the UFC?
12:13 >> Yeah, in a way this is the biggest fight of my career, but
12:21 at the same time it's not.
12:21 I truly believe the daily battles that I win on the daily
12:29 help me get to where I'm at.
12:31 So, it's just what it is.
12:36 I think the daily battles that I battle daily,
12:40 those small moments help propel me and get me to where I need to be.
12:44 So in a sense this is an important fight, but
12:48 not as important as the ones that I deal with on the daily.
12:50 >> 100% and not everybody acknowledges it, and
12:55 there's not necessarily one key moment, but sometimes there are for some people.
12:58 You talk a bit about those little moments that add up.
13:02 Do you care to share what are some of those things that constantly are in your
13:04 mind but help you prevail and keep going forward?
13:08 >> Yeah, I always think of the situation with my son.
13:16 That's obviously a really big thing in my life that my son is alienated from me.
13:24 He lives an hour away and I have no ties to him.
13:27 So I can go two ways.
13:31 I can go off the deep end and be that,
13:36 and go down that route, and that's a route I choose not to go.
13:42 Cuz I've been almost to the point of no return.
13:46 And so I don't wanna self-destruct no more, I wanna in a sense self-manifest.
13:53 So with obviously that stuff always lingering on me,
13:56 all the temptations, all the bad thoughts that come over.
14:02 I try to daily fight those and fight for the good and
14:07 try to give peace where it needs to be and forgiveness where it needs to be forgiven.
14:14 >> And last thing for me, looking at that hope that you have in your faith and
14:17 looking at this fight going forward, what excites you most about the opportunity?
14:21 >> I think the message that I'm sending on this platform is beautiful.
14:31 To all the little kids growing up in the inner city, to all the younger generation
14:37 coming up from a rough upbringing, with discipline and
14:44 hard work you can reach your dreams.
14:47 You can go from,
14:48 you're the author of your book, so be the hero of your own story.
14:58 And I think that's the message that I wanna send is that I got tired of waiting for
15:04 a hero to show up, so I decided to be my own hero.
15:07 >> Awesome, thank you, good luck Saturday.
15:09 >> Thank you.
15:10 >> Okay, perfect, thank you very much.
15:12 [BLANK_AUDIO]