It was a busy weekend for the folks from the 209.
On the same night UFC lightweight bruiser Nate Diaz busted up longtime rival Clay Guida — which also drew a Stockton slap for regional standout Tyler Diamond — Chris Avila was fined and suspended for his headbutt against Horacio Gutierrez.
Avila (5-7), hailing from Stockton, Calif., and training out of the Nick Diaz Academy, was looking to snap a four-fight losing streak at the Combate Americas: “Mexico vs. USA” mixed martial arts (MMA) event last Friday night (May 11, 2018) in Sacramento (full results here).
Instead, he dug himself into an 0-5 hole.
Unfortunately for “The Punisher,” his winning performance was overshadowed by the headbutt he took from Avila during their pre-fight staredown. While it’s not unusual to bump bridges during the referee’s instructions, Avila practically had a running start.
It cost him $200 and 90 days on the bench, according to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
As for Gutierrez, he improves to 5-3 and is now the winner of two straight.
Get the latest gear
