Issue 143
July 2016
A lesson from Jorge Masvidal started Michael Chiesa on a submission spree that’s driving him towards the UFC 155lb title
Michael Chiesa
UFC Lightweight
Alias: Maverick
Age: 28
Team: Sik-Jitsu Fighting Systems
Record: 14-2
By tapping out Beneil Dariush at UFC Tampa in April, Michael Chiesa finally broke into the top 10 of the UFC’s 155lb division. But he’s not stopping there. With career aspirations of one day wearing Octagon gold, the TUF 15 winner’s run of high-level submissions shows no sign of abating. And it’s all because of a mantra he takes into every fight... ‘be more like Masvidal’.
Did you expect to beat Beneil Dariush by submisison?
A Honestly, this was the first time I’ve gone into a fight and not really had a vision of how I was going to win. Usually I have an idea or how I can go about my way and finishing guys. So while I was really confident of getting the win and the finish, I really seen it happening that way. No disrespect to him, but he’s become very good at winning three-round fights. So I knew if the finish came then it would be me winning the fight. That was just how it was always going to happen.
Where does this victory rank in your career?
A It was a pretty good night’s work, even if I do say so myself. It’s certainly one of my biggest wins, that’s for sure. It’s hard to say it’s the biggest because I am very appreciative of every fight I have in the UFC and I feel like every guy, every fight, is the fight of my life. The name on the record doesn’t really change that. But I haven’t felt this good after a victory before. I finally feel like this one is getting me the respect I deserve.
This latest win promotes you into the top 10 at 155lb, do you feel it’s about time?
A I feel like people are now taking me serious. I’ve been telling you guys (the media) that I’m top five. I’ve heard people saying I’d be lucky to break the top 15. Well, I’m going out there and defeating good guys and that’s the only way to silence all the naysayers. Everyone who said disparaging things before, well, now I’m looking at their tweets and reading what they’re saying, and they’re finally coming around. I’m a threat to anybody in and around this weight division.
You’ve proven yourself against two black belts in a row, but how would you fare against an elite striker?
A The one thing everyone is saying now is, ‘OK, let’s see how he does against a high-level striker.’ OK, I’m down for that. After all, what’s going to stop me from submitting a high-level striker? I feel like I have a very dangerous game with my size and my strength – and I’m only getting better... It definitely feels good to tap out two black belts, especially as I don’t have any belt at all.
You’re not even a white belt? Who’s your jiu-jitsu coach?
A I only have an MMA coach named Rick Little. I’ve been telling everyone for years, this guy is very, very, very underrated. We come from Spokane, Washington, which is a small city with less than 300,000 residents, yet our gym has four people in the UFC. Three were born here and two won The Ultimate Fighter. Two are ranked in the top 10 of their weight divisions. He’s the reason behind that success. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve trained with black belts, done a little cross training and things like that, but my day-to-day routine has never involved training with black belts. I’m a white belt, honestly.
How have you switched your mindset from that of a TUF winner to title contender?
A I’ve always had my sights set on the same thing – and I’ve said the same thing my whole life – and that’s simply that I’m here to be the world champion. There have been times along the way when I’ve even had a hard time believing it, but now what I always worked towards is coming true. It’s all starting to come together for me. While I knew it before, now I’m finally starting to see it.
Which has been your most seminal moment in the Octagon?
A The (Jorge) Masvidal fight was the wake-up call. I was supposed to fight Reza Madadi in Seattle (at UFC on Fox 8) but he fell off and Joe Silva (UFC matchmaker) called and asked who I’d like to fight. Me being young and stupid I asked him, ‘Well, who’s the toughest guy you got?’ And he started rattling off some names and I was like, ‘Who else you got?’ Then Jorge Masvidal’s name popped up and I was like, ‘I’ll take that guy’. I thought I had it all figured out. But eating humble pie from him really made me see that it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.
What did you learn from the defeat to Masvidal?
A I’ve always said I was going to be a world champion, but I never appreciated that statement as much as I did after that loss. I’ve really built momentum since and I truly believe it now. Listen, you won’t see a guy who’s more composed in there than Masvidal. He’s just so relaxed and he keeps this real poker face and seems like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He’s the only guy to legitimately beat me in there, so I kind of obsess over him a little bit. We’re friends now and we talk, but that’s really the thing I learnt from him – be more composed, be more relaxed, be more like him.
Is that your fighting mantra now: be more like Masvidal?
A It really is and I’m not ashamed to say it. He’s the only guy to beat me, legitimately, as a professional. You can say Joe Lauzon beat me, but he cut my face and got lucky. But this was the first guy to ever stop me in my tracks. He beat me more than just technically. He had something else and I went away from that fight seeking answers. When you lose to somebody you have to learn from it. You have to either pick up a technique or simply learn to approach the fight differently. And that’s what I learned, to be more composed. To be more like ‘Gamebred’.
What opponent gets you closer to that title shot this year?
A After the Dariush fight, I asked for Tony Ferguson. I believe that’s a fight that makes sense. I know he’s ranked above me but we’re both on win streaks and I believe our styles clash well. That’s a really good main event. But at this point I’ve got my sights set on everybody ranked above me. I know how I match up with all of them, and I match up well.
Would you take a world title shot if it was offered next?
A Of course. I’d take it in a heartbeat. I believe I’m destined to be the UFC champion and as long as I keep on winning I know I can’t be denied my chance eventually.
Grappler’s quest
Q If you could face anyone in history who would you fight?
A. If time travel was involved I would say a prime (Kazushi) Sakuraba. That would be a really fun fight. I’m not saying I am as good as he is, I’m just saying our styles are similar. He’s this funky, quirky fighter with great grappling. A fight between us would be fun for the fans. Another reason I picked him is because he is one of my favorite fighters of all time. Fighters are weird like that, we want to fight our idols.
Don’t do the adult thing
Q If you weren’t a professional fighter what would you do for a living?
A. When I was working at Budweiser I had a really good job offer from a distributor who distributed Monster Energy, which is funny now with them being a big UFC sponsor. They really wanted me. I was told it was a six-day-a-week salaried position. They weren’t saying I couldn’t fight, but they didn’t think I could make time for both so I was at a crossroads of sorts. Do I pursue fighting or do I do the adult thing and take this great paying job and make a living? Obviously, I chose the first option.
