UFC bantamweight Chris Gutierrez is known for his slick striking and brutal leg kicks, as ‘El Guapo’ has earned respect in one of the UFC’s toughest divisions through his 10-3 record. Yet, behind every calculated move inside the Octagon lies a story of survival, family, and identity. The 32-year-old bantamweight contender was born and raised in the U.S., but his bloodline stretches far beyond.

His roots trace back to Latin America,  to hard-working parents who left everything behind in search of a better life. Now, as Gutierrez gears up to face Farid Basharat at UFC 320, fans want to learn more about the man behind the gloves and the cultures that shaped him!

Chris Gutierrez’s nationality & flag

Chris Gutierrez holds an American nationality by way of birth. The 34-year-old was born in Greenville, Texas, on April 22, 1991, to Latin American parents from different ethnic backgrounds. ‘El Guapo’s mother is reportedly from Guatemala, while his father hails from Colombia, which makes Gutierrez Latino by ethnicity. The Texas resident started training in martial arts at the age of 16 and turned pro at the age of 22 in 2013. He currently trains out of Factory X Muay Thai in Englewood, Colorado, under head coach Marc Montoya, one of the most respected striking minds in MMA.

But life wasn’t always this stable. The fighter has often spoken about his family’s financial struggles growing up. His parents, Jorge and Gladis, worked relentlessly to keep food on the table.

In an interview with UFC.com, he revealed, “That love within the family is ingrained in you and I get warm talking about it because that’s the only thing we really have in this life that’s truly ours. My parents did everything they could to give us a better life. I’ve seen my dad work two or three jobs, 16-18 hour shifts. My mom was cutting hair at home, making food to go sell.”

As such, it won’t be too much of a stretch to say Chris Gutierrez’s fighting spirit and his work ethic all stem from that background, as we now shift our focus to the story surrounding his early life and upbringing!

What is Chris Gutierrez’s ethnicity? Early life & more

As mentioned earlier, ‘El Guapo’ is Latino by ethnicity, and before the cage, there was the soccer field. As a kid, Gutierrez dreamed of going pro, not in MMA, but in soccer. He was good, too. “If I told you I was a slouch in soccer, I’d be lying,” he once joked. He and his brother were even scouted while visiting Colombia, but they were too young to pursue a career.

The dream faded. But something else took root. At 16, he began training seriously, and by 22, he was a professional fighter. His parents were shocked, at first. But eventually, they saw the fire in their son. In his UFC.com interview, the bantamweight star revealed, “To be where I’m at and be able to help my parents a little bit, it means a lot, and I’m sure to them it means the world that they raised their kids right.”

Now, Gutierrez carries more than just his record into UFC 320; he carries a legacy. ‘El Guapo’ is set to face Afghanistan’s Farid Basharat on October 4, in what promises to be one of the most technically sound bantamweight fights on the card!