Michael Chiesa News

Cole Shelton - April 27, 2020

Michael Chiesa isn’t planning on fighting while the pandemic is going on. Although the UFC is returning on May 9, many states are still in lockdown leaving fighters without gyms or training partners to help prepare for fights. Yet, most fighters are still interested in competing, some like Amanda Nunes won’t be stepping in the Octagon.

Mike Pendleton - April 15, 2020

Michael Chiesa is currently riding a three-fight winning streak in the welterweight division with wins over Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, and Rafael dos Anjos. With his current win streak in place, Chiesa is looking to be smart and strategic with his upcoming opponents. During an interview on The Luke Thomas Show, Chiesa laid out his plans for the welterweight division and says he is confident he will fight this year despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Natasha Hooper - April 6, 2020

Rafael dos Anjos has revealed how an infrared sauna caused his whole body to overheat during weight cutting for his last fight against Michael Chiesa. Many MMA fighters have experienced weight cutting related mishaps. That includes the former lightweight champion and UFC veteran “RDA”. The Brazilian explained how cutting weight hampered his UFC Raleigh performance in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

Natasha Hooper - March 24, 2020

Surging contender Gilbert Burns has seemingly found his next dancer partner in the Octagon, and that is none other than Michael Chiesa. Both welterweights have shown an interest in fighting and are keen to square off in the main event of a fight card later this year.

Harry Kettle - February 21, 2020

Michael Chiesa has issued a response after claims from Diego Sanchez’s coach Joshua Fabia that they had plans for a ‘death choke’ at UFC 239. Chiesa and Sanchez went toe to toe during International Fight Week back in July 2019 with the former coming out on top in a fairly lopsided unanimous decision victory. Alas, even though Chiesa has gone on to also beat Rafael dos Anjos, there’s a whole lot more attention on Sanchez right now following his controversial DQ win at UFC Rio Rancho last weekend.

Harry Kettle - February 3, 2020

Pro fighters have been reacting to Super Bowl LIV on Twitter after the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 last night in an absolute classic in Miami. While the worlds of mixed martial arts and pro football don’t necessarily always cross paths, Super Bowl Sunday is essentially a national holiday throughout the United States and beyond. Fans from around the world gather together to watch the big game, and MMA stars are no different.

Adam D Martin - January 26, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa says he has respect for Colby Covington as a fighter, but he believes this is the fight that makes sense next. Covington is one of the most controversial and divisive MMA fighters out there right now. His outspoken and brash personality has fans, media and his fellow fighters divided about him as a person, but there’s no mistaking that Covington is one of the best welterweights on the planet.

Adam D Martin - January 26, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa released a statement following his decision win over Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of UFC Raleigh. Chiesa used a dominant wrestling game to take down RDA and control him on the mat for the majority of the fight to earn a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. It’s the biggest win over Chiesa’s career to date as the former “Ultimate Fighter” winner defeated the No. 5 ranked welterweight in RDA.

Chris Taylor - January 25, 2020

In tonight’s UFC Raleigh co-headliner, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will square off with Michael Chiesa in a welterweight bout. Dos Anjos (29-12 MMA) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards in his most recent Octagon appearance. Prior to the setback, ‘RDA’ had scored a submission victory Kevin Lee.

Cole Shelton - January 21, 2020

Michael Chiesa wanted a ranked opponent after his win over Diego Sanchez but did not expect to get a top-five opponent in Rafael dos Anjos. Chiesa, who moved up to welterweight in 2018, is now 2-0 in the weight class and revealed it was dos Anjos who asked for the fight at UFC Raleigh.

Harry Kettle - November 22, 2019

UFC welterweight contenders Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Chiesa have exchanged pleasantries ahead of their clash at UFC Raleigh next year. The UFC has confirmed that the two will square off at the show on January 25, which is already looking like one of the most stacked Fight Night cards in quite some time. Curtis Blaydes vs Junior dos Santos is set to main event the card in North Carolina with Cory Sandhagen vs Frankie Edgar having also been confirmed.

Natasha Hooper - August 21, 2019

Henry Cejudo raised eyebrows last week when he challenged women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko to an “inter-gender” bout. UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa is stepping it up a notch by calling for a Brock Lesnar vs Gabi Garcia matchup. Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight title at UFC Uruguay when she went five rounds against Liz Carmouche. She beat Carmouche to a unanimous decision victory, avenging her loss from their first fight in 2010. After the fight, Cejudo took the limelight back by challenging Shevchenko to the first inter-gender fight.

Tom Taylor - July 11, 2019

Michael Chiesa picked up a big win at UFC 239, defeating The Ultimate Fighter season one winner Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision. Yet he didn’t escape the Octagon unscathed. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Chiesa divulged that Sanchez gave him what fight fans often refer to as an “oil check.”

Chris Taylor - July 6, 2019

A welterweight bout between veterans Diego Sanchez and Michael Chiesa kicked off tonight’s UFC 239 main card from Las Vegas. Sanchez (29-11 MMA) enters tonight’s contest on a two-fight winning streak, scoring victories over Craig White and Mickey Gall in his most recent octagon appearances.

Cole Shelton - July 5, 2019

Michael Chiesa is set for his second welterweight fight this Saturday at UFC 239, where he will take on Diego Sanchez. Moving up to welterweight was something was considering for a long time given how big he is. He says he would wake up a “couple of pounds” over 180 pounds with two-weeks until fight night — quite a distance from the lightweight division’s 156-pound limit. Not having to cut as much weight as a welterweight is a huge bonus and a big stress reliever for Chiesa.

Cole Shelton - July 1, 2019

Don’t call it a legend tour. Michael Chiesa is set to fight longtime veteran of the sport, Diego Sanchez at UFC 239. And, after beating another veteran in Carlos Condit last time out, many are saying he is fighting legends of the sport. But, the 31-year-old makes it very clear, Sanchez is not a washed-up legend like fans are making him out to be.

Drake Riggs - April 5, 2019

At UFC 232 to close out 2018, we saw a late candidate for submission of the year when The Ultimate Fighter season 15 winner, Michael Chiesa (15-4) locked in a kimura that handed former UFC interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit his fifth straight defeat. A few months later early into the new year, we also saw another crazy sight as the iconic TUF 1 winner, Diego Sanchez (29-11) got his first win by finish in 11 years when he TKO’d Mickey Gall in round two of their UFC 235 clash.

Tom Taylor - December 29, 2018

The final non-title bout of the UFC 232 main card occurred in the welterweight division, where former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit looked to rebound from a string of losses opposite Michael Chiesa, who was making his debut in the welterweight division after a long run in the lightweight division. Early in this riveting welterweight style matchup, it looked like the surprisingly hulking Michael Chiesa would be able to give Carlos Condit all kinds of problems with his wrestling. As the round wore down, however, Condit was able to threaten with a very tight armbar off his back, and then with a heel hook.