Chris Gutierrez unfazed by late-notice opponent change ahead of UFC on ESPN 61

LAS VEGAS – Chris Gutierrez is just happy to be fighting this weekend.

Gutierrez’s return this Saturday at UFC on ESPN 61 – which marks his first bout of 2024 – almost got canceled, as his original fight against Javid Basharat fell through just days before the event. Luckily for Gutierrez (20-6-2 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), the UFC found a replacement in undefeated LFA standout Quang Le.

“I’m happy to have an opponent because I think one or two more days later it would’ve gotten scratched, and it already got pushed back a week before that, so I was excited,” Gutierrez said at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 61 media day. “He stepped up, and at this point, it doesn’t matter who it is.”

Gutierrez admits he doesn’t know much about Le, given that the booking was announced on Tuesday. But from what little he knows, he’s been impressed by the Vietnamese fighter.

“8-0, very young in the sport, but you know, he’s got talent,” Gutierrez said. “He’s got a good right hand. I don’t know much about him. He comes from other organizations and has been working his way up, and he got the call, so let’s see what he’s about.”

As far as the strategy is concerned, Gutierrez doesn’t think much has changed for him, despite fighting a different style. At the end of the day, a fight is a fight.

“I mean, it’s a fight,” Gutierrez explained. “It’s one-twos, takedowns, kicks, it’s kind of all the same. I just believe in my training and what I’m capable of. That’s how I prepare.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 61.