Michael Chiesa

Michael Keith Chiesa (; born December 7, 1987) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and sports analyst who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional from 2008 to 2026, Chiesa was the winner of FX's inaugural The Ultimate Fighter: Live.

Background Chiesa is of Italian descent and was born in Aurora, Colorado, but moved to Spokane County, Washington, in his early years, growing up in Otis Orchards-East Farms with two older sisters. His grandfather Darrell Triber was a motorcycle race promoter and is in the Hall of Fame for fast-track racing.

Having mostly just skateboarded until the age of 11, Chiesa started wrestling.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Chiesa began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2008. He fought for several regional promotions in the Pacific Northwest, going undefeated in his first seven fights, before gaining an opportunity to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Live reality show.

The Ultimate Fighter Chiesa was one of 32 lightweight fighters announced by the UFC to participate in first live season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. He was chosen as the fifth pick for Team Faber. Chiesa's terminally ill father died shortly after his victory.

After teammate Al Iaquinta picked up the first win for Team Faber, his coach decided that Chiesa would fight Jeremy Larsen next. Chiesa would go on to defeat Larsen by unanimous decision after two rounds.

For his quarter-final fight, Chiesa was matched up with the highly favored prospect, Justin Lawrence. After a hard-fought two rounds, the judges declared a draw and the fight went to a third, "sudden-victory" round. Early in the third round, Chiesa was able to reverse Lawrence on the ground, gain a mount position and win the fight by TKO, earning a $5,000 knock-out bonus and a place in the semi-finals.

Chiesa was selected to fight Team Cruz fighter, James Vick, in the semi-final round. Chiesa won the fight by technical knockout in the second round. He moved on to the finals against Team Faber teammate Al Iaquinta.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Chiesa officially made his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale on June 1, 2012, against fellow Team Faber teammate Al Iaquinta. Chiesa defeated Iaquinta by technical submission due to a rear-naked choke 2:47 into the opening round thus becoming The Ultimate Fighter: Live's inaugural winner and received Submission of the Night honors for his efforts.

Chiesa was expected to face Rafaello Oliveira on December 8, 2012, at UFC on Fox 5. However, Oliveira was forced out of the bout with a broken hand and replaced by Marcus LeVesseur. Then, the week of the event, Chiesa was forced out of the bout with LeVesseur with the shingles and the bout was scrapped altogether.

Chiesa next fought Anton Kuivanen on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. Chiesa submitted Kuivanen with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Chiesa was expected to face Reza Madadi on July 27, 2013, at UFC on Fox 8. However, on May 14, 2013, it was announced Madadi was pulled from the bout due to visa issues. Chiesa instead faced Jorge Masvidal. Chiesa was stopped by Masvidal in the second round due to a d'arce choke submission, resulting in the first defeat in his professional career.

Chiesa next faced Ultimate Fighter winner Colton Smith on November 6, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 31. He won the fight via submission in the second round. The win also earned Chiesa his second Submission of the Night bonus award.

Chiesa faced Francisco Trinaldo at UFC 173 on May 24, 2014. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Chiesa faced Joe Lauzon on September 5, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 50. After a back and forth fight, Lauzon defeated Chiesa via TKO in the second round after opening a significant cut above Chiesa's right eye, forcing a doctor's stoppage. The performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

Chiesa faced Mitch Clarke on April 4, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 63. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Chiesa faced Jim Miller on December 10, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 80. He won the fight via submission in the second round. The bout also earned Chiesa his second Fight of the Night bonus award.

Chiesa faced Beneil Dariush on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. He won the bout via submission in the second round and was also awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.

Chiesa was expected to face Tony Ferguson on July 13, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 91. However, Chiesa pulled out of the fight on June 27 citing a back injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Lando Vannata.

Chiesa faced Kevin Lee on June 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 112. At a UFC summer kick off press conference in association with UFC 211, Kevin Lee mentioned Chiesa's mother had tickets to the show, in which Chiesa responded "don't you ever talk about my mom". This verbal altercation ultimately led to punches being thrown, and both were escorted from the stage. Chiesa lost the fight via technical submission at the end of the first round. He appealed to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission to overturn the defeat, claiming referee Mario Yamasaki erred both in stopping the fight despite no tapout nor loss of consciousness and in allowing Lee to use illegal downward elbows, which cut his head. Later, the appeal was dismissed by the commission.

Albeit having one fight left on his contract, Chiesa signed a new four-fight deal with UFC at the end of August 2017.

UFC 223 and Conor McGregor incident Chiesa was expected to face Anthony Pettis on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223; however, the bout was canceled after a backstage incident with Conor McGregor on April 5, 2018. McGregor threw a dolly at a UFC bus that Chiesa was traveling on and broke a window. Chiesa was hit by shards of glass, which opened a cut on his forehead, and needed hospitalization subsequently resulting in the fight's cancellation.

On September 10, 2018, Chiesa told the media he has sued McGregor for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He also sued Barclay's Center for negligence, although he didn't disclose the amounts or further details of either of the cases. In early 2022 news surfaced that the attorneys of both fighters filed for stipulation of discontinuance with prejudice, having reached a settlement in the process.

The bout with Pettis was rescheduled to UFC 226. At weight-ins, Chiesa weighed in at 157.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the lightweight limit of 156 pounds. As a result, the fight proceeded at a catchweight bout and Chiesa forfeited 30% of his purse to Pettis. Chiesa lost the fight via submission in round two. Shortly after the loss, Chiesa announced going up to welterweight division. He won the fight via submission in the second round.

Chiesa faced Diego Sanchez on July 6, 2019, at UFC 239. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Chiesa dedicated the win to the memory of Jess Roskelley. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Chiesa faced Neil Magny on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20. Chiesa won the fight via unanimous decision after controlling Magny on the ground for most of the 5 rounds.

Chiesa faced Vicente Luque on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265. He lost the fight via a submission in round one.

Chiesa faced Sean Brady on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Chiesa was scheduled to face Li Jingliang on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287. However, Jingliang pulled out of the bout due to a spine injury.

Chiesa faced Kevin Holland on July 29, 2023, at UFC 291, losing the bout via a brabo choke submission in round one.

Chiesa faced Tony Ferguson on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC 7. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

On his birthday, Chiesa faced Max Griffin on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Chiesa was scheduled to compete against a to be determined opponent on February 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 252. However, no opponent was ever announced so he was removed from the card.

Chiesa faced Court McGee on June 14, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 69. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

In his retirement bout, Chiesa was scheduled to face Carlston Harris on March 28, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 271. However, Harris withdrew due to visa issues and was replaced by Niko Price. Chiesa won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round and retired from mixed martial arts competition after the bout.

Film and television Chiesa was featured in the award-winning mixed martial arts documentary Fight Life. The film is directed by James Z. Feng and was released in 2013.

Since UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till on May 27, 2018, Chiesa has been regularly acting as a desk analyst at UFC events. In 2025, he made his commentary debut on week four of season nine of Dana White's Contender Series.

Championships and achievements Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighter 15 Tournament winner Fight of the Night (Two times) Most submission losses by D'Arce choke in UFC history (3) Second most rear-naked choke submissions in UFC history (8) (behind Demian Maia) Seventh most submissions in UFC history (9) Lords of the Cage LOTC Lightweight Championship (One time) MMAJunkie.com 2016 April Submission of the Month 2018 December Submission of the Month

Mixed martial arts record Win

Niko Price Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer

Seattle, Washington, United States Win

Court McGee Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Max Griffin Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 310

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tony Ferguson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Kevin Holland Submission (brabo choke) UFC 291

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Sean Brady Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Vicente Luque Submission (brabo choke) UFC 265

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Neil Magny Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Rafael dos Anjos Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States Win

Diego Sanchez Decision (unanimous) UFC 239

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Carlos Condit Submission (kimura) UFC 232

Inglewood, California, United States Loss

Anthony Pettis Submission (triangle armbar) UFC 226

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Kevin Lee Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Win

Beneil Dariush Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Jim Miller Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mitch Clarke Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas

Fairfax, Virginia, United States Loss

Joe Lauzon TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Mousasi

Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Win

Francisco Trinaldo Decision (unanimous) UFC 173

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Colton Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC: Fight for the Troops 3

Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States Loss

Jorge Masvidal Submission (brabo choke) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga

Seattle, Washington, United States Win

Anton Kuivanen Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 157

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Al Iaquinta Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darrell Fenner Submission (rear-naked choke) CageSport 16

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Matt Coble Submission (rear-naked choke) Lords of the Cage 6

Manson, Washington, United States Win

Evian Rodriguez Submission (rear-naked choke) Lords of the Cage 5

Airway Heights, Washington, United States Win

Darcy James Submission (brabo choke) Battlefield Fight League 7

Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Win

Andy Paves Decision (unanimous) Rumble on the Ridge 14

Snoqualmie, Washington, United States Win

James Vick TKO (punches)

(Live airdate)

Win

Justin Lawrence TKO (punches) (Live airdate)

Win

Jeremy Larsen Decision (unanimous) (Live airdate)

Win

Johnavan Vistante Submission (rear-naked choke) (Live airdate)