TUF 18 castmember Anthony Gutierrez fights for the Titan FC bantamweight title on July 18th against champion Brett Johns at Titan FC 34 in Kansas City. Gutierrez (6-1) caught up with MMAOddsBreaker on an upcoming episode of The Parting Shot Podcast and discussed a variety of topics. Where he got the nickname “Shark Bait” I started training when I was 15 years old. I’m a little guy now but I was even half the size then. I started training back in 2007 with guys who had local fights and they were all beating me up so they all called me “Shark Bait” I kept training, then I started fighting at 18 and I just kept the nickname because I liked it. Criticism from fans following his release from TUF 18 after missing weight “As far as the criticism from the public goes, the reality of that show is that it’s filmed in six weeks and it airs for 13 weeks. We’re only there for 36 days and if your inside of a semi-final bout – which is the fight that I was in – that’s the third time you’re making weight in a six week span. That was on my fifth week where I was trying to make weight for the third time. So of course I missed it, which was all on me and it’s my fault. The criticism from the public is completely irrelevant to me, not only do they not have an idea what it’s like to cut weight, [second] I made weight twice and missed it on the third time in five weeks. You know for fat peoples opinions that want to call me a failure, it’s like dude people miss weight when they have nine week camps and have to make it once. I had to make it three times in six weeks. So if you have an opinion well your opinion is completely irrelevant because your probably not very educated on the situation. On if that situation will ever impact him signing with the UFC “As far as missing the weight goes, Gabe Ruediger missed weight on Season 5 and he absolutely sucks at fighting. They let him back in the UFC. So after a guy who completely sucks at fighting missed weight on the Ultimate Fighter, they had him back. So the fact that I missed weight and I’m really really good at fighting I’ll be fine.” Keeping in touch with fellow TUF 18 castmembers “I keep in touch with everybody except Julianna Pena…..she’s ughhh. Other than her, I don’t keep in touch with Jessica Rakoczy because we got into a fight over a sauna suit right before I got booted. Other than those two I liked everybody. I haven’t talked to Ronda in a while though, which kind of upsets me. We used to Facetime quite a bit after the show and then obviously we kind of grew apart and she obviously kind of busy.” Tips for fighters trying out for The Ultimate Fighter “Here’s my recommendation for any fighter that wants to do TUF. When I’m eating really good, like four meals a day, I’m walking around 160 pounds. But when I’m eating really clean and healthy, I walk around about 152 pounds. Which is pretty standard for a 135er. If I had to do it all over again I would go into a featherweight season. That way instead of having to do that 17 pound gamble, three times in six weeks, I would just go to 145 pounds. That way I can focus more on the fight as opposed to sitting in a house with no books, TV, music, no family and not eating. I’m all about MMA and what a better experience than being on a UFC level show, with a cool coaches. So I for sure would do it again, plus I’m an attention whore.” His win over Austin Lyons at Titan FC 33 “Legitimately everything went according to plan, I was expecting him to shoot in a little bit more for some takedowns, which I was prepared for. My plan was just to stay on the outside, control the range and just strike. After watching that tape I could have finished him inside of five minutes if I wanted to. But I was just being very cautious because you saw what happened in the Walel Watson fight where I killed a guy twice and he came back and won. When I was fighting Austin Lyons, the only thing that was in my head, was just be calm, don’t take any risks and keep winning.” Feeling that his last fight was a “Must win” “Yeah definitely because if I would have lost to Austin Lyons I would be 5-2 and who the hell wants to sign a guy who is 5-2? That was huge, he was just coming off a win over Jonathan Brookins who’s a tough guy. There was pressure there, I knew I was a lot better than him. Now me being 6-1 which really I think I’m 7-1 because my fight to get in the house went all three rounds that I won, so that’s kind of a shame that doesn’t count as a win. There’s a huge difference between a guy who is 6-2 and 7-1.” His Championship matchup with Brett Johns at Titan FC 34 “I think I matchup really well. A lot of my advantages I think are going to come with athleticism and physicality. My striking I think is way better than his. His grappling is his strong suit, his timing, composure is super good. When you see his good timing, grappling, that is going to make the striking a lot more competitive just because those are extra variables. He’s really good at mixing things up, so if I can just fight my fight, take the center of the cage make him start walking backwards, I think I have a huge advantage. I’ve watched all of his fights, he’s not afraid to hold someone against the fence and listen to random strangers boo for a half hour. I need to be aware of that and just stay in the center. Basically if I don’t fight my fight I could be in for a long night. He’s a good fighter, I’m a realist I know how skilled he is.” Fighting in his home state of Missouri “There’s pros and cons. You got everyone, all the boys, ‘Oh let get me some tickets’ and they decide they that want to wait until I’m 139 pounds on my last sauna session, they want me to get them tickets. It adds a different element. [For example] my last fight in Alabama it was me, James Krause, two of my coaches, my mom, dad and sister. That was just us, we stayed in the hotel room together, we worked out together, we ate together. I kind of like that because you just stay in your own circle. Here in Kansas City, there is a lot more things going on, I have a lot of responsibilities. But also I’m not trying to have a guy fly in from Europe who’s 11-0 to beat the shit out of me in front of all my friends. I’m a gamer and I’ll rise to the occasion. It just adds more good pressure to the fight.” Titan FC 34 being broadcasted on UFC Fight Pass “It definitely adds more motivation for sure. The UFC 135 pound division it’s not really that stacked if you think about it. You obviously have TJ Dillashaw who is incredible, Renan Barao. You could name three or four other names who are very good fighters at 135 pounds. Outside their Top 6, honestly I think a guy like me or Brett Johns fits right up in that division. The UFC needs 135 pound talent, that’s a fact. Brett Johns is 11-0, me being 6-1 and having the hype around my fights. I definitely feel the pressure as far as the UFC needs [bantamweights] and we’re going to be on the UFC network. Dana White I would assume he’ll be watching live or at some point he’ll see the fight. They need a guy like me or Brett Johns to step in.” Potentially handing Brett Johns his first loss “Anytime you can win 11 MMA fights in a row its definitely a big accomplishment. This might sound rude, but the talent in Europe, the UK and Wales it’s nowhere near the talent in the United States. In my opinion Brett Johns has beaten two guys that I think are good. One of the guys I forgot his name, he was in Cage Warriors, that guy was pretty good. Then he beat Wael Watson who is pretty good too. I think I can finish him quick, I just got to touch his chin which I know I’m more than capable of doing. Handing him his first loss is going to be epic. I’ll be the guy that turned him into 11-1, which in reality I look at it I beat a guy who is 2-0. Because he’s beaten two good guys, when I beat him he’s 2-1 not 11-1.” You can follow Anthony on Twitter @Sharkbait816 and you can listen to the full audio version of this interview on Episode 113 of The Parting Shot Podcast on a special Monday (July 13th) edition.
