UFC bantamweight Chris Gutierrez picked up the biggest victory of his career with a devastating knockout win over former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. Speaking on The MMA Hour, Gutierrez revealed that his primary concern was for Edgar’s wellbeing after the flying knee landed.
“As soon as I saw him stiffen and fall, the first thing that went through my mind was, ‘S***, I hope he’s OK.’ That’s instantly the first thing that went through my mind. That’s why I didn’t even really celebrate at first. The genuine person in me was, like, I just want him to be OK. I didn’t really care to celebrate. Even though my team, we had our own emotions going into the fight, especially the stuff that coach was dealing with, it was a big emotional rollercoaster ride.
Chris Gutierrez’s Surprising Reaction to Frankie Edgar KO
But yeah, I saw him fall, the first thing that went through my mind was, ‘I hope he’s OK.’ It was almost scary because when I walked out, the boos echoed and the floor was just rumbling. You can feel the electricity, like, ‘Man, they don’t like me here.’ Respectfully so, they have all the right to feel that way, I’m fighting against the Jersey legend. So I knew I was going to have to earn my respect there.”
Gutierrez has the distinction of being Edgar’s final opponent in the Octagon, as Frankie Edgar retired from competition following the fight. He was surprised to pick up such a prestigious opponent, describing the moment as “bittersweet”.
“I didn’t think it was going to be me. Maybe my coaches behind the scenes they did, but as far as me, I didn’t have no idea. I just got the phone call, ‘This is who you’re fighting.’ I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’
I guess [the retirement] just made it a little bigger. It’s his final ride. You want to see the legend go out on top. So I didn’t look at it like that, I’m the guy that gets to kind of spoil it. It was very bittersweet, it definitely was.”
Gutierrez had nothing but praise for his opponent in the Octagon, telling him: “‘You’re a legend and it’s an honor to share this cage with you.’
I was like the kid growing up watching this guy competing. I always pictured him as like — and I mean no disrespect — he’s like The Little Engine That Could. He was the smallest guy in the division, always being the underdog, and would always prevail on top. I wasn’t the biggest guy growing up, so I was like he’s sort of like me, I’m not the biggest guy but neither is he and he’s just prevailing and just winning and he’s got heart. I was like, ‘I’ve got to stay on that track. I want to be like him.’”
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