After a tumultuous couple of years, the UFC welterweight division is slowly but surely starting to work itself out. Reigning champion Kamaru Usman will defend his title against Gilbert Burns later this month while Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev collide shortly thereafter.
The fight most fans have been clamoring for is a 170-pound grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal; however, there doesn’t appear to be any urgency in getting that fight booked considering both combatants have been out of action for several months (and counting).
That’s why Michael Chiesa, ranked No. 6, is doubling down on his “Chaos” callout:
“It’s not that everyone is saying positive things like I’m gonna win, they just like that match,” Chiesa told MMA Fighting. “It’s a fight that makes sense at this point and if the Masvidal fight doesn’t get done, who else is there for him to fight? Usman and Burns are booked, everyone else is booked, then there’s me. Maybe they do him and ‘Wonderboy,’ who knows? All I know is that it felt right.”
Chiesa (18-4) called for the Covington fight after dominating Neal Magny at UFC on ESPN 20 last month in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately for “Maverick,” there has been nothing but crickets from Team “Chaos,” which is why The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) vet is working on his Plan B.
Or Plan T in this case, for Thompson.
“He’s such a good guy, and he’s a hell of a fighter,” Chiesa said of No. 5-ranked Stephen Thompson. “That would be a fun fight for sure. If the Colby fight falls through then may the nicest mother f’er win.”