Prospects, like almost anything else, come in layers and levels. There are those who are greener, more experienced, generally better, etc. Juan “El Carnicero” Gutierrez is probably a mirror image of what I personally envision when I consider what an “MMA prospect” means. Talented, with plenty of upside, yet still some kinks to work through. That is not a knock at all; this is what an athlete’s early career is for: to hone the fundamentals and shape the style they will use for the rest of their careers. It is like Michelangelo in the early stages of the Statue of David. Gutierrez is young, at 21 years of age, and has just commenced his professional career. Literally learning on the job, he had his first pro fight in April of this year, then had his second on May 17th. Almost like a regional scene Khamzat Chimaev, having dispatched both opponents early on in impressive fashion.
Additionally, all of his appearances, amateur and professional, have come under Fury FC, and he has actually shared a card with both Sean King and Terrance Chatman (shoutout to the fellas). We know that Fury can be relied upon to produce talent. With a sizable amount of time spent with the training wheels on (6-1 amateur) and two finishes at the professional level in the span of a month, Gutierrez has the right ingredients in the kitchen to start cooking. At bantamweight, he has fantastic genetics, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall with a 72-inch reach. He’s a name that is new to the game, and hopefully, you heard it here first. Here’s a quick peek around the curtain, and why you should pay attention.
Gutierrez’s jab is what caught my eye first. Our readers have heard me bitch and moan more than once about how this very simple tool is not utilized more than it should be. Gutierrez fights behind his jab, both as an offensive weapon and as a feint, and it lets him set up his offense and facilitate pressure. Against Sear Sanjar in his final amateur fight, his steadfastness with the jab allowed him to circle well and mitigate distance. Paired with solid footwork, it’s truly a trait to admire. Also against Sanjar, Gutierrez emphasized knees to the body off the break in the clinch. What is great about Gutierrez is that he uses checkpoints in the fight to cause additional damage. From the initial jab to the clinch, nothing goes to waste, and that maturity adds to his stock as a prospect. Gutierrez is a jack of all trades with his weaponry, and it is evident when one turns on the tape. Against Anthony Valenzuela in his first pro appearance, Gutierrez’s jab worked very similarly. It served to pressure him and throw him off his game, forcing Valenzuela to try to level change when he otherwise may have waited for a more opportune moment.
Gutierrez’s most recent bout against Rodrigo Miranda was one of his most challenging outings, but also one of the most impressive. Miranda was riding high on a four-fight win streak (including amateur), also in his second professional contest, and thus was an accurate litmus test. There were more solid jabs and 1-2s. I can’t say if it was intentional, but Gutierrez kept throwing a swatting left hook towards the right side of Miranda, almost like he was trying to pull that arm down to land his own cross. Eventually, Gutierrez’s right hand began to penetrate the defense. The left hook to right cross combination was money, and it wobbled and dropped Miranda. Gutierrez’s activity was also impressive, and he never strayed away from what worked, like so many others might. Moreover, he did a progressively better job of countering Miranda’s jab with crushing right hooks, slipping and ducking them in order to provide counterfire. While I credit his footwork, I believe it would benefit him to work on counter wrestling in the open, as opponents have gotten a hold of him out of desperation in the past.
As far as his overall rating goes, there isn’t much to pick on besides the obvious. He’s a young prospect, and anything that seems to need fine-tuning now will be smoothed out in the years to come, provided he keeps it up. There is a lot of upside to investing in Juan Gutierrez early on. He has a good amount of experience in the minor leagues and won both pro fights by finish early on. He has a height and reach rarely seen for a bantamweight, and the physical tools necessary to succeed. Fighting on back-to-back Fury cards and kicking ass in the process is no easy accomplishment. At this critical juncture, he needs to further sharpen his strengths as well as work on any weaknesses, and he will continue to be a true threat to whoever stands across from him. He is a mere 21 years of age and literally just starting competing for real. Give the guy a chance, and see what he blossoms into.
