Bantamweights
#15 BW | Chris Gutierrez (19-5-2, 7-2-1 UFC) vs. Heili Alateng (16-8-2, 4-1-1 UFC)After some late reshuffling, Gutierrez looks to hold serve and rebound from a disappointing loss. Gutierrez got run over by Raoni Barcelos in his UFC debut back in 2018 but eventually became the dark horse of a deep bantamweight division. “El Guapo” took a neutralizing approach that did not bring much excitement to the table, but he racked up win after win until people had to take notice. Gutierrez enjoyed a breakout year in 2022, as he managed to leverage his defensive ability into some effective counter offense. After annihilating Batgerel Danaa with a spinning backfist, Gutierrez earned the biggest win of his career in November by knocking out Frankie Edgar. However, a loss to Pedro Munhoz in April was a bit disheartening, as the Brazilian’s early success caused Gutierrez to tamp down much of his newfound aggression and clearly lose a decision. Initially slated to face top prospect Montel Jackson at UFC Fight Night 229, Gutierrez instead winds up meeting Heili Alateng in a fight that should be easier but still has some potential pitfalls. “The Mongolian Knight” has been quietly successful, losing only one fight since making his UFC debut in 2019, but he has remained under the radar thanks to a combination of inactivity and poor card placement despite a fun fighting style that relies on consistent power punching and little else. Gutierrez does not bring the type of aggression that will take Alateng entirely out of his game, so there is a chance the Chinese fighter can find big moments of fight-changing offense. Still, between Gutierrez’s considerable size advantage and ability to manage distance, this looks like a fight where the American can coast out a slow-paced win. The pick is Gutierrez via decision.
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