Michael Chiesa News

Cole Shelton - December 3, 2024

The 184th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live to preview UFC 310. We’re first joined by UFC welterweights Michael Chiesa (0:41) and Max Griffin (14:49). We close things out by chatting with UFC lightweight Chase Hooper (26:21).

Cole Shelton - August 15, 2024

Michael Chiesa thinks the version of Tony Ferguson that beat Rafael dos Anjos would’ve beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov was one of the biggest fights that never came to fruition. It was booked on multiple occasions, but the pair never ended up meeting in the Octagon for a variety of reasons. According to Chiesa, he thinks had Ferguson and Nurmagomedov fought after ‘El Cucuy’ beat dos Anjos, he thinks Ferguson could’ve won.

Cole Shelton - August 13, 2024

Michael Chiesa thinks Tony Ferguson needs to stop competing after UFC Abu Dhabi. On the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi earlier this month, Chiesa scored a first-round submission win over Ferguson in a one-sided performance. After the fight, Ferguson half-announced his retirement but has since walked back on that, and now Chiesa is pleading with Ferguson to retire.

Cole Shelton - August 5, 2024

Michael Chiesa says he would have retired had he lost to Tony Ferguson at UFC Abu Dhabi. Chiesa was fighting for the first time in over a year as he took on Ferguson, in a fight he was a sizeable favorite in. However, he was on a three-fight losing streak so there was pressure on him to get the win. Not only was Chiesa fighting to likely save his UFC job, but he says had he lost he would have hung up his gloves and retired. Luckily for Chiesa, he made quick work of Ferguson as he scored a first-round submission win.

Chris Taylor - August 3, 2024

We have you covered for all of today’s UFC Abu Dhabi results, including the welterweight bout between Michael Chiesa and Tony Ferguson. Chiesa (16-7 MMA) will enter today’s contest with hopes of snapping a three-fight losing skid. ‘Maverick’ most recently competed inside of the Octagon thirteen months ago at UFC 291, where he suffered a submission loss to Kevin Holland.

Cole Shelton - August 1, 2024

On the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi, a highly-anticipated welterweight bout goes down as Tony Ferguson takes on Michael Chiesa. Heading into the fight, Ferguson is a massive +420 underdog while ‘The Maverick’ is a -720 favorite on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro-fighters to get their predictions for the fight. Although many pros want to see Ferguson get the win and end his losing streak, the majority of pros expect Chiesa to use his wrestling and size to control ‘El Cucuy’ on the ground.

Josh Evanoff - July 31, 2024

Tony Ferguson hopes that Michael Chiesa is ready for their UFC Abu Dhabi clash. ‘El Cucuy’ has been out of the octagon since a unanimous decision loss to Paddy Pimblett in December. That defeat at UFC 296 was Tony Ferguson’s seventh loss in a row, previously losing to the likes of Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, and Nate Diaz. Seven months removed from that defeat, the former interim champion will face Michael Chiesa.

Cole Shelton - July 31, 2024

Michael Chiesa isn’t overlooking Tony Ferguson ahead of their fight at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Chiesa and Ferguson are set to meet on Saturday’s main card in a pivotal fight for both of their careers. Ferguson is on a seven-fight losing streak, and Dana White has urged Ferguson to retire win or lose after Saturday’s bout.

Josh Evanoff - June 5, 2024

UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa is happy to finally face Tony Ferguson. ‘Maverick’ hasn’t competed since a first-round submission loss to Kevin Holland at UFC 291 last July. That defeat was Michael Chiesa’s third in a row, previously suffering defeats to Vicente Luque and Sean Brady. Following the loss to ‘Trailblazer’, many felt that the 36-year-old could retire from fighting.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 29, 2024

Nick Diaz is back and he will be a part of a stacked UFC Abu Dhabi card. UFC CEO Dana White had his matchmakers cooking up a card for UFC Abu Dhabi, and they have delivered in terms of name recognition. The UFC boss has announced that Stockton’s own Nick Diaz is back and will be taking on Vicente Luque in a bout scheduled for five rounds on August 5th. Diaz hasn’t been seen inside the Octagon since his rematch with fellow MMA legend “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler back in September 2021.

Josh Evanoff - April 4, 2024

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland wants to fight Michael Chiesa. ‘Tarzan’ regularly takes to social media with his thoughts about politics, pop culture, and society in general. That has led Sean Strickland to cultivate quite a big fanbase online. However, his newest take has earned him the scorn of UFC analyst Michael Chiesa, and several others.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 30, 2023

Kevin Holland gave a brutally honest take on Michael Chiesa’s fighting future following UFC 291. Holland and Chiesa shared the Octagon in the UFC 291 main card opener. This one didn’t last long, as Holland was able to secure a choke in the opening frame. Chiesa has now lost three fights in a row and has been submitted in two of those fights. It’s a tough skid for Chiesa, who had previously been on a four-fight winning streak prior to this current stretch.

Chris Taylor - July 29, 2023

A welterweight bout between Kevin Holland and Michael Chiesa kicked off tonight’s UFC 291 pay-per-view card from Salt Lake City. Holland (25-9 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since April’s UFC 287 event in Miami, where he scored a stunning knockout victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. That KO returned ‘Trailblazer’ to the win column, as he had previously suffered back-to-back losses to Stephen Thompson and Khamzat Chimaev respectively.

Chris Taylor - July 29, 2023

We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC 291 results, including the welterweight bout between Kevin Holland and Michael Chiesa. Holland (24-9 MMA) was last seen in action at April’s UFC 287 event in Miami, where he scored a stunning knockout victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. That KO returned ‘Trailblazer’ to the win column, as he had previously suffered back-to-back losses to Stephen Thompson and Khamzat Chimaev respectively.

Cole Shelton - July 27, 2023

Michael Chiesa tried to face Bo Nickal at UFC 290. After Tresean Gore pulled out of his UFC 290 scrap against Nickal due to injury, the UFC was in need of an opponent. The promotion ended up settling on Val Woodburn, but Michael Chiesa claims he had previously spoke to the UFC about stepping up on short notice to fight Nickal and the making a quick turnaround to compete this weekend against Holland.

Harry Kettle - July 27, 2023

Michael Chiesa has rejected a claim from Kevin Lee that he offered to step in and fight him on short notice. After more than 18 months away, Michael Chiesa will return to the Octagon this weekend to face Kevin Holland. He’s currently riding a two-fight losing streak, with his hope being that he can bounce back in Salt Lake City.

Cole Shelton - April 3, 2023

Michael Chiesa won’t be fighting this Saturday at UFC 287. Chiesa was set to take on Li Jingliang in his first fight since November of 2021, as he had been dealing with an injury. However, last week it was revealed Jingliang was forced out of the fight and Chiesa confirmed no replacement opponent was found.

Harry Kettle - March 28, 2023

UFC welterweight Li Jingliang has reportedly been forced to withdraw from his fight at UFC 287 due to injury. Next month, UFC 287 is set to emanate from Miami, Florida. While Gilbert Burns vs Jorge Masvidal is the welterweight match-up everyone is talking about, many fans were also excited to see Li Jingliang vs Michael Chiesa.