KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chris Gutierrez wants more respect after knocking out Frankie Edgar in his past outing.
Perhaps Gutierrez (19-3-2 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) did get that respect after he was matched up with ranked contender Pedro Munhoz (19-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 44 main card, but Gutierrez still thinks he’s being overlooked.
Unbeaten in his past eight fights, Gutierrez is coming off back-to-back knockouts of Danaa Batgerel and former UFC lightweight champion Edgar at UFC 281.
“I think I’ve been overlooked my whole life in a lot of situations,” Gutierrez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I think leading into that fight – of course, the attention should have been on him (Edgar). He’s the Hall of Famer; he’s the one that’s put in the time. But like I said, I’ve been flying under the radar. I’ve been doing all the things I was supposed to be doing, and everything led to that night.”
He continued, “I don’t believe I get the respect I deserve, but that’s been my whole life. I’ve been overlooked my whole life. I really haven’t gotten the respect I deserve or earned most importantly, but that’s OK.”
Gutierrez takes on perennial contender Munhoz, who brings in a wealth of experience having fought the likes of bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, and former champs Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz.
“He’s a credible opponent,” Gutierrez said on Munhoz. “He’s been around, and you’ve seen what he can do. He brings an incredible skillset, so ultimately that’s what we’re here to do, is test ourselves against the greatest.”
UFC on ESPN 44 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.
