2012 World MMA Featherweight Scouting Report: #6 - Anthony Gutierrez

Photo by Keith Mills, Sherdog
Name:	Anthony Gutierrez
Nickname:	Sharkbait
Age:	21
Height:	5'11"
Location:	Lee's Summit, Missouri

Missouri is one of the Midwest's highest yielding areas for quality mixed martial arts talent. The University of Missouri is the primary reason, housing a nationally recognized wrestling program that has produced successes such as Tyron Woodley, Michael Chandler, and Ben Askren. There are, however, more fighters emerging from the unknown, mainly due to the quality training facilities that exist in the region.

One of those talents is K2L Grindhouse team member Anthony Gutierrez (4-0). The 21-year-old submission specialist, who's been featured under the Titan Fighting Championships' banner, has been impressive in his short four-fight professional career, submitting all of his opponents inside the first round. Before making his debut with Titan Fighting Championships in January, he amassed nearly twenty fights as an amateur, recording a 16-3 record with nine wins coming by way of submission.

Standing at 5'11", Gutierrez uses his lengthy frame to his advantage on the feet, effectively attacking from range with leg kicks and straight punches. His gameplans usually revolve around using those strengths, but opponents find a way inside his reach, resulting in Gutierrez fighting off his back. Unfortunately for his opposition, Gutierrez is highly-effective on the ground, as evident in his success in submitting opponents.

It's only going to get worse for his adversaries. In the lead-up to his bout with Shane Hutchinson at Titan Fighting Championships 20 in September, Gutierrez began an extended training camp out in Sacramento, California with Team Alpha Male, a camp famous for housing UFC veterans Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, and Joseph Benavidez. As one can imagine, the improvements Gutierrez could see in his wrestling game benefit him two-fold, both in his takedown defense and abilities to get fights to the ground.

Gutierrez's poor strength of record and short professional career leaves much to be desired, but the skills he's shown in the cage along with the drive to improve his overall game by heading to Team Alpha Male is a good sign of things to come. At only 21, Gutierrez has plenty of time to develop into a well-balanced fighter.

Check out more video footage of Anthony Gutierrez after the jump...

Anthony Gutierrez vs. Shane Hutchinson

Anthony Gutierrez vs. Jacob Aiken - TFC 16
Anthony Gutierrez vs. Shane Denton

Anthony Gutierrez vs Jon Hollis

Anthony Gutierrez vs. Drew Springfield

Anthony Guiterrez vs. Keith Koehn

Anthony Gutierrez - 7th career bout