Following a profitable 2021 marketing campaign that noticed him choose up back-to-back wins, bantamweight Mando Gutierrez was in a position to hold his momentum getting in his first bout of 2022.
Dealing with Matthew Elliot at Whole Warrior Fight in February, Gutierrez was in a position to climate an admittedly underwhelming efficiency to select up a unanimous determination victory for his third win in a row.
“Clearly the win is sweet, and getting your hand raised is an important, however I don’t really feel like I bought to point out something,” Gutierrez instructed MMAWeekly.com. “I don’t really feel like I carried out to the perfect of my talents.
“I’d say it’s in all probability one in all my worst performances. I’ve bought a giant chip on my shoulder coming into this combat. I’m on the point of go on the market and present the perfect model of me that’s ever been on the market.”
One factor Gutierrez labored on to make sure he’s his finest he could be in his upcoming bouts was to work on the psychological side of his recreation see how that influences the remainder of his growth.
“I really feel like I’m persistently getting higher and higher,” mentioned Gutierrez. “I’m nonetheless comparatively new to this recreation. I haven’t been doing this for thus lengthy.
“My psychological strategy has been very completely different this 12 months. I’ve had a psychological shift that has helped me unlock a brand new degree of laborious work and coaching that haven’t been in a position to step into earlier than, so now I really feel I’m extra primed and able to go than ever earlier than.”
This Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gutierrez (7-1) will look so as to add to his successful streak and maybe punch his ticket to the following degree when he faces Paul Rosas Jr. (5-0) in a 135-pound bout at Dana White’s Tuesday Evening: Contender Collection 9.
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“He’s a savage and undoubtedly deserves to be right here,” Gutierrez mentioned of Rosas. “However on the identical time he’s bought a tall process in combating me.
“I feel Raul poses a giant risk on the bottom. I really feel I’ve simply as a lot floor recreation as he does to carry to the desk. I feel it’s going to make for a terrific combat both means –whether or not on the bottom or the ft – however I see myself as the higher fighter all-around.”
Despite the fact that a win on the Contender Collection might give Gutierrez his shot on the UFC, he’s going to strategy his combat like he would every other in his profession and let the chips fall the place they might.
“I’ve been competing my complete life, so to me it’s simply the following step within the course of,” mentioned Gutierrez. “With regards to the combat recreation that is in all probability the slowest 12 months I’ve ever had, so I’m simply excited to get again on the market.
“Granted that is the most important stage of all of them, and I’m able to get on the market and present the world what I’m able to. I’m completely satisfied the chance is right here (to doubtlessly make) the following step in my profession. I’m simply prepared to offer it my all and present the world what I’ve bought and hold shifting ahead and hold pushing.”
