“The Rest is History”: Juan Gutierrez Ready for High-Stakes Clash at Fury Challenger Series 14

HOUSTON - Juan Gutierrez never planned on becoming one of the top amateur bantamweights in the country—but once he stepped onto the mats, everything changed.

“I don’t really have an exact reason as to why I started training,” says Gutierrez, who fights out of Metro Fight Club in Houston, Texas. “I don’t know—I just started doing jiu-jitsu first, and then from there the rest is history. I mean, I just started doing this.”

With a 4-1 record, Gutierrez is currently ranked the #3 amateur bantamweight in the U.S. Southwest and #29 in the nation. He’ll put his momentum to the test against Alan Gonzalez (5-1), the #11-ranked amateur flyweight in the country and the top flyweight in Texas, who trains out of Gracie Barra The Woodlands and Team Tooke MMA.

“Just as everybody else, I want to be in the UFC and hopefully one day be a champion,” Gutierrez says.

For now, he’s thriving at Metro Fight Club, surrounded by teammates who push him every day. “My main gym is here at Metro Fight Club,” he says. “I love it here. We have a good atmosphere, good training partners, and they’re helping me get tougher every day.”

Gutierrez is also embracing the spotlight that comes with fighting under the Fury banner. “Fighting for Fury is unreal,” he says. “All the lights, all the center of attention being on you—it really exposes you to that atmosphere. I don’t think a lot of promotions have that.”

As for his upcoming opponent, Gutierrez expects nothing less than a war. “I know my next opponent is Alan Gonzalez,” he says. “No messages—I mean, I know we’re going to have a good scrap. He’s really tough on the feet, and yeah—it’s going to be a great fight.”

With a goal of making it to the UFC and the confidence of a fighter who’s found his calling, Gutierrez is ready for the next step on his journey.

Fury Challenger Series 14 takes place on Sunday, July 27th, 2025, and can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass, or in-person at Imagen Venues in Houston, Texas - get your tickets at furyfc.tv/tickets