UFC’s Chris Gutierrez Says Retiring Frankie Edgar Was ‘Bittersweet’

Chris Gutierrez is fresh off the greatest win of his profession … however, he says the minute was really bittersweet, ’cause he retired UFC legend Frankie Edgar — somebody he appreciated as a young fan of mixed martial arts.

31-year-old Gutierrez, who entered UFC 281 as an unranked fighter, knocked out number 12 ranked bantamweight, 41-year-old Edgar, about midway through the preliminary of their contest with a completely put knee. It was the last battle of Frankie’s Hall of Fame profession.

“It’s definitely bittersweet. I knew I still had a job to do, but at the end of the day, I didn’t enjoy … It was bittersweet. I gotta do what I gotta do and I won the fight but no one really likes to see a champion go down like that. It hurt me a bit. It did.”

Chris says Edgar was somebody he admired as a young mixed martial arts fan … and the previous champ really influenced him.

“The reality is it was an honor to share the cage with him, an honor to share the Octagon. He’s someone that I grew up watching from the beginning. He was the little engine that could. A smaller guy taking on these giants and he would come out on top. He would find a way. He inspired me as a kid to kind of push through life.”

With the win over Edgar, Gutierrez broke the leading 15 … and now beings in the 13th position. Chris remains in the middle of a 4 battle win streak … and hasn’t lost considering that 2018 (he battled to an attract August 2020).

We asked Gutierrez who he desires next … and he had some concepts.

“I already have three people on my mind. Pedro Munhoz, Dominick Cruz, or Rob Font would be some good ones,” Chris says.

But, no matter what takes place from here … Chris is grateful for all his success.

“To be honest I never envisioned myself being where I’m at in life so every day is like a blessing.”

As for Frankie … he decreases as one of the best fighters in UFC history.