Justin Wetzell feels he has momentum on his side, and it’s hard to debate that with 10 wins in his last 11 fights. Wetzell, a wrestling specialist, has trained with the likes of Cory Sandhagen and Tywan Claxton. Wetzell won his First Round bout in April, defeating Kasum Kasumov.

 

Mando Gutierrez was a wrestler during his school days and picked up Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a teenager before joining the world of MMA. Gutierrez, a BJJ specialist, has trained with a who’s who of modern MMA names, including Joaquin Buckley, Khaos Williams, Belal Muhammad, and Yair Rodriguez. Gutierrez has scored finishes in nine of his 11 wins, including his first-round win over Francesco Nuzzi this past April.

 

Which of these two will be competing for the PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title in August?

 

 

Round 1

 

Wetzell throws up a knee. Gutierrez switching stances. Quick lead hook by Gutierrez. Gutierrez with another shot. One-two from Gutierrez. Combination from Wetzell. Low kick from Wetzell. Left hand from Gutierrez. Gutierrez presses Wetzell into the fence. Gutierrez tries for a takedown, but Wetzell is resisting. Knee by Gutierrez. Gutierrez looks for the takedown again, but Wetzell reverses. Wait, no! Gutierrez has a guillotine attempt! Wetzell gets out of it and now is in Gutierrez’s guard.

 

Right hands from Gutierrez. Right hands from the top position from Wetzell. Gutierrez doing work from the bottom. Wetzell tries to clear the guard, but Gutierrez has a strong hold on him from the seated bottom position. He gets Wetzell back into his rubber guard. Left hand from Wetzell. Another left hand from Wetzell. Left hands from Wetzell. Elbows from Wetzell to end the round.

 

 

Round 2

 

Right hand and a left from Wetzell as he chases. Wetzell shoots in with a big drive and scores a takedown. Wetzell into side control. Gutierrez now looks like he’s trying to get his guard back. Gutierrez is looking for a guillotine though. Gutierrez trying to get under the chin. Wetzell gets out of it. Now Wetzell gets by the guard and is looking for a straight armbar. He lets go of it. Wetzell is trying to work in Gutierrez’s guard again. Gutierrez with the rubber guard again. Is this a triangle attempt? Omoplata?

 

 

Wetzell with some shots to the sides and Gutierrez’s guard drops. Wetzell is trying to buy himself some space. Wetzell with a few right hands. Wetzell tries to distance himself, but Gutierrez keeps up the guard. Strong left hands from Wetzell. Wetzell is pressing a seated Gutierrez now. Wetzell is pressuring from up top, landing elbows and hooks. The referee separates and stands the two with about 50 seconds left in the round. Gutierrez lands hooks as Wetzell presses for another takedown. Gutierrez gets taken down again as he looks for another guillotine.

 

Round 3

 

Gutierrez presses and goes chest-to-chest with Wetzell against the SmartCage. Gutierrez continues to press despite Wetzell’s defenses. Wetzell sprawls. Cradle position for Wetzell now, as Gutierrez is bleeding from the nose. Gutierrez is desperate for the guillotine, and he ends up seated up against the fence yet again. Light shots from Gutierrez. Wetzell is landing from the top, and Gutierrez appears to have accepted the position.

 

Wetzell continues to land and pressure from up top with his arms. Gutierrez gets off the fence, but he’s now in the cradle again. The two go back to the fence. Guillotine attempt by Wetzell. The arm is in with this front headlock position. Knees to the shoulder from Wetzell. Potential D’Arce choke here with a minute left? Potential Anaconda choke now? Punches to the midsection by Wetzell. Anaconda choke almost gets locked in, but he slips off. Wetzell tries again, but Gutierrez gets out of it. Gutierrez scrambles for a guillotine, but Wetzell scrambles out of it. Wetzell is on top as he presses a seated Gutierrez once more before the bell.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Justin Wetzell def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)