Chris Gutierrez has a solid highlight reel – but UFC on ESPN 33 marked perhaps his most emphatic career finish.
In the second-to-final prelim of the event, Gutierrez (18-4-2 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) made his mark with a violent spinning backfist knockdown and follow-up elbows en route to a knockout of Danaa Batgerel (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC). The finish came at 2:34 of Round 2.
UFC on ESPN 33 took place Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and streamed on ESPN/ESPN+.
The first round was competitive and closely contested, until Gutierrez went for a failed spinning strike attempt in the final minute. He slipped and fell off balance. Batgerel gained top control and landed some solid shots to end the round.
The blunder in Round 1 didn’t deter Gutierrez from trying another spin in Round 2 – and he’s glad he did. The violent spinning backfist knockout was only the ninth in UFC history. It extended Gutierrez’s winning streak to seven and snapped Batgerel’s three-fight winning streak.
Picture perfect 📸
[ @CGutierrezMMA | #UFCColumbus ] pic.twitter.com/ssn0vsbmTK
— UFC (@ufc) March 26, 2022
The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 33 results include:
- Chris Gutierrez def. Danaa Batgerel via knockout (spinning backfist and elbows) – Round 2, 2:34
- Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Denis Tiuliulin via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:58
- Manon Fiorot def. Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Matheus Nicolau def. David Dvorak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Luis Saldana def. Bruno Souza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
