Michael Chiesa News

Tom Taylor - January 8, 2021

The UFC has released the official promotional poster for the upcoming UFC Fight Island 8: Chiesa vs. Magny event. The card is slated for January 20 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It was originally expected to be headlined by a welterweight clash between No. 3-ranked contender Leon Edwards and rising prospect Khamzat Chimaev. When Chimaev was forced off the bill due to lingering COVID-19 symptoms, however, co-headliners Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny were elevated to the main event spot.

Tom Taylor - December 22, 2020

Ranked welterweight contenders Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny have reportedly agreed to fight on January 20 on Fight Island. While this is a big fight for the welterweight division in its own right, either of the two men could apparently get the call to step in should Leon Edwards or Khamzat Chimaev fail to make it to the cage for the card’s main event.

Harry Kettle - October 8, 2020

UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa has explained why fighting Khamzat Chimaev isn’t something he’s interested in right now. Chiesa, 32, is riding a three-fight winning streak since making the move up to 170 pounds with victories over Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez and Rafael dos Anjos. On the flip side, Chimaev has made an instant impact in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with two wins at middleweight and one at welterweight across the last few months.

Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020

Rising UFC welterweight contender Michael Chiesa is willing to step into the Octagon with the division’s No. 3-ranked fighter, Leon Edwards. Edwards is currently on a fantastic eight-fight win-streak, but has not fought in over a year, and has struggled greatly to find a willing dance partner for his next fight.

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.