The fighter did walk away with a win on that night, but Gutierrez also suffered a bad knee injury as well.
“I completely tore my ACL,” Gutierrez told MMA Junkie. “It was in the fight, in the last round. I felt it kind of give. During the fight, you don’t really feel it because your adrenaline is going. Afterward, there’s the pain. I thought maybe I tweaked it. I didn’t really think anything bad about it. A couple days later, I was like, ‘Man, this is not good.’ I waited a little bit longer. Then, I had to go get it checked out. Then, the worst news ever. Especially as an athlete – to be told your tore your ACL or anything? Especially your legs. You’re on them everyday to get around. When one of them is gone, it’s like life takes a pause there, as well.”
Gutierrez has since undergone surgery to repair the knee injury and has been cleared to return to action.
Not only is Gutierrez planning to return to action in June of this year, but he wants to fight Andre Ewell as well.
“No disrespect to him,” Gutierrez said. “It’s not like any bad blood. I heard some people saying that we must dislike each other. No, it’s actually the complete opposite. Yeah, he fought one of my teammates. I thought Jonathan Martinez beat him. It is what it is. I want it because stylistically it’s a great fight. The fans get a good show. We get to go out there and perform. Most importantly, I respect him as an individual. We’re both going through the same thing as fathers. He’s kept away from his son. I’m kept away from my son. I have nothing but respect for him. He goes out there and puts on a show. I’m going to do the same thing.”
Ewell has yet to respond to the challenge laid out by the soon to be returning Gutierrez.
