Tag: Michael Chiesa

Michael Chiesa on Tony Ferguson Brushing Him Off: ‘It’s Kind of Hypocritical’

Michael Chiesa isn’t appreciative of Tony Ferguson’s rejection. Recently, Chiesa put his name on the list of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweights willing to engage with “El Cucuy” for the interim 155-pound gold. Ferguson was supposed to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov for the interim title, but “The Eagle” fell ill and the bout was canceled. Ferguson […]

Michael Chiesa isn’t appreciative of Tony Ferguson’s rejection. Recently, Chiesa put his name on the list of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweights willing to engage with “El Cucuy” for the interim 155-pound gold. Ferguson was supposed to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov for the interim title, but “The Eagle” fell ill and the bout was canceled. Ferguson […]

Michael Chiesa: ‘I’ve Got my Sights Set on Tony Ferguson’

Michael Chiesa has entered the Tony Ferguson sweepstakes. Chiesa currently sits at the seventh spot on the official Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rankings. He is riding a three-fight winning streak, but hasn’t competed since April 2016. Chiesa was going to meet Ferguson at UFC Fight Night 91 back in July 2016, but a back injury […]

Michael Chiesa has entered the Tony Ferguson sweepstakes. Chiesa currently sits at the seventh spot on the official Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rankings. He is riding a three-fight winning streak, but hasn’t competed since April 2016. Chiesa was going to meet Ferguson at UFC Fight Night 91 back in July 2016, but a back injury […]

Michael Chiesa: I’d Beat Conor McGregor Because He’s Not ‘True Lightweight’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdNGwHapeng

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White raised a lot of eyebrows when he put over how huge Nate Diaz was compared to Conor McGregor. Despite the fact that Diaz had competed at lightweight eight straight times before facing McGregor at 170 pounds, White was convinced Diaz is huge for the division.

While many believed this to be promotional hype, No. 8 ranked lightweight Michael Chiesa doesn’t believe White is far-fetched. Speaking with ESPN, the “Maverick” doesn’t feel McGregor’s size is meant for the 155-pound division:

“Conor is good, but I really don’t think he’s a true lightweight. That’s what I’m saying. With the landscape of this division, I don’t see Conor ending his year as champion. And you put me in there, I’m going to drag him to the ground and beat him too. I’m a huge lightweight. I’m as big as Nate or bigger, and we saw how many problems Nate gave him.”

Chiesa doesn’t want to give the impression that he is brushing off “Notorious” as a world champion. At the same time, he knows the lightweight division is a murderers’ row of contenders.

“I know he’s good. I’m not knocking him. We have to recognize the guy can f—ing fight. But you have to look at the guys coming up in the lightweight division. Tony Ferguson and Khabib, you have to fight the winner of that fight. I mean, dude, you’re good, but you’re going up against a guy who is 24-0, multiple samba world champion, or a guy that would be on a 10-fight win streak.”

Chiesa hasn’t had a marquee fight that would put him in title contention yet. While the “Maverick” would like a top five opponent, a lot of them are either booked or busy. No. 3 ranked Rafael dos Anjos recently announced he was moving up to the welterweight division.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdNGwHapeng

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White raised a lot of eyebrows when he put over how huge Nate Diaz was compared to Conor McGregor. Despite the fact that Diaz had competed at lightweight eight straight times before facing McGregor at 170 pounds, White was convinced Diaz is huge for the division.

While many believed this to be promotional hype, No. 8 ranked lightweight Michael Chiesa doesn’t believe White is far-fetched. Speaking with ESPN, the “Maverick” doesn’t feel McGregor’s size is meant for the 155-pound division:

“Conor is good, but I really don’t think he’s a true lightweight. That’s what I’m saying. With the landscape of this division, I don’t see Conor ending his year as champion. And you put me in there, I’m going to drag him to the ground and beat him too. I’m a huge lightweight. I’m as big as Nate or bigger, and we saw how many problems Nate gave him.”

Chiesa doesn’t want to give the impression that he is brushing off “Notorious” as a world champion. At the same time, he knows the lightweight division is a murderers’ row of contenders.

“I know he’s good. I’m not knocking him. We have to recognize the guy can f—ing fight. But you have to look at the guys coming up in the lightweight division. Tony Ferguson and Khabib, you have to fight the winner of that fight. I mean, dude, you’re good, but you’re going up against a guy who is 24-0, multiple samba world champion, or a guy that would be on a 10-fight win streak.”

Chiesa hasn’t had a marquee fight that would put him in title contention yet. While the “Maverick” would like a top five opponent, a lot of them are either booked or busy. No. 3 ranked Rafael dos Anjos recently announced he was moving up to the welterweight division.

Quote: Conor McGregor Won’t End Year As Lightweight Champ

Just over two months after his history-making win over Eddie Alvarez at last November’s UFC 205, the MMA world is holding its collective breath for lightweight champion Conor McGregor’s next move. The face of the UFC was stripped of his featherweight championship before December’s UFC 206, and his name is more in the news right now for his

The post Quote: Conor McGregor Won’t End Year As Lightweight Champ appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Just over two months after his history-making win over Eddie Alvarez at last November’s UFC 205, the MMA world is holding its collective breath for lightweight champion Conor McGregor’s next move.

The face of the UFC was stripped of his featherweight championship before December’s UFC 206, and his name is more in the news right now for his rumored boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr., although it’s been more in the form of “Money” and Dana White running their mouths about it than anything “Notorious” has said.

With McGregor out for an indefinite period of time to welcome his first child, his current home of 155 pounds will also move on in a sense when Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson fight for the interim title at March 4’s UFC 209 from Las Vegas. The winner is expected to meet ‘The Notorious’ in his next fight, but that’s far from anything close to guaranteed considering his unpredictable schedule.

If and when McGregor finally does defend his belt, one top-ranked lightweight doesn’t seem to think he’ll hold onto it for very long. That man is No. 8-ranked Michael Chiesa, who told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on his “5ive Rounds” podcast that McGregor will have to defend his belt at some point:

“Sooner or later, Conor is going to have to come out and fight,” Chiesa said. “Whether he’s taking this hiatus himself or the company is putting him on ice, who knows? But I don’t see him staying champion.”

Chiesa moved to clarify he knows McGregor is highly skilled, but compared him to the elite level of competition he’ll conceivably face upon his return. Based on the most obvious upcoming match-ups, Chiesa believes Nurmagomedov, Ferguson, and even himself are just too big for “The Notorious”:

“I know he’s good. I’m not knocking him. We have to recognize the guy can f—ing fight. But you have to look at the guys coming up in the lightweight division. Tony Ferguson and Khabib, you have to fight the winner of that fight. I mean, dude, you’re good, but you’re going up against a guy who is 24-0, multiple samba world champion, or a guy that would be on a 10-fight win streak.”

“Conor is good, but I really don’t think he’s a true lightweight,” Chiesa continued. “That’s what I’m saying. With the landscape of this division, I don’t see Conor ending his year as champion. And you put me in there, I’m going to drag him to the ground and beat him too. I’m a huge lightweight. I’m as big as Nate or bigger, and we saw how many problems Nate gave him.”

These words may be beginning to sound a bit redundant, as we’ve heard a long list of reasons why McGregor’s next opponent would be the one to shut him down and hand a deflating defeat, only to watch him pass every test – except one – with flying colors. In fact, the one fight McGregor did lose in the UFC, his shocking UFC 196 submission loss to Nate Diaz, was probably the one fans and media members thought featured the lowest odds of him losing given that late replacement Diaz was coming into the fight on 10 days’ notice.

The much larger Diaz gave McGregor more problems at their rematch at UFC 202, yet McGregor escaped with a narrow majority decision win that time around. There’s no question that bigger, rangier lightweights give him a tougher test than the shorter featherweights he’s blasted in the Octagon, but in order for the Irish megastar to lose to any one of the three contenders Chiesa named earlier, he’s going to have to defend his belt – something he hasn’t done a single time in Cage Warriors FC or the UFC.

Will McGregor finally defend one of his titles? And if he does, will he remain the king of the talented 155-pound landscape at the end of 2017?

The post Quote: Conor McGregor Won’t End Year As Lightweight Champ appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is ‘Moving on’ From Tony Ferguson, Eyeing Michael Chiesa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5ZddeXFjPU

Remember when Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team gave Tony Ferguson six days to sign a bout agreement? Well it appears “The Eagle’s” camp got tired of waiting and are going in another direction.

ESPN’s Brett Ok…

khabib-nurmagomedov-entranc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5ZddeXFjPU

Remember when Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team gave Tony Ferguson six days to sign a bout agreement? Well it appears “The Eagle’s” camp got tired of waiting and are going in another direction.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was told Nurmagomedov is ready to face the next highest ranked lightweight without a fight. Here is his tweet:

Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz confirmed that his fighter was indeed looking at No. 8 ranked 155-pounder Michael Chiesa as a potential opponent for UFC 209. He also said “The Eagle” will begin training in a couple of days.

If this holds true, it appears current featherweight champion Jose Aldo will be losing out on his bid for an interim lightweight title showdown with Nurmagomedov. Aldo said he was offered the bout, but “The Eagle” turned it down. Nurmagomedov has shown disinterest in the fight and claimed he doesn’t “bully the little.”

Chiesa may not be the first person fight fans would’ve thought of, but he may very well be the only one available. Eddie Alvarez is still recovering from his knockout loss to current champion Conor McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos is moving up in weight, Edson Barboza is booked, and Nate Diaz wants $20 million.

Don’t mistake the “Maverick” for a slouch. Chiesa reigned supreme on season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). He hit a couple of snags when he was submitted by Jorge Masvidal and lost via doctor’s stoppage against Joe Lauzon, but Chiesa has seven wins inside the Octagon.

Of those seven wins, five have come by way of submission. All of Chiesa’s career submission wins have come via some form of a choke. Moral of the story here is, don’t let him grab a hold of your neck.

UFC 209 is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 4. Heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt will clash on the card. The event is still without a headliner.

Quote: Conor McGregor’s Lightweight Title Shot Is ‘Bulls***’

The MMA world is definitely awaiting the lightweight title main event between Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez at November 12’s UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, yet there are still top 155-pound fighters who believe the booking is a bit of a joke. That’s nothing new, however, as McGregor’s leapfrogging of a

The post Quote: Conor McGregor’s Lightweight Title Shot Is ‘Bulls***’ appeared first on LowKick MMA.

The MMA world is definitely awaiting the lightweight title main event between Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez at November 12’s UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, yet there are still top 155-pound fighters who believe the booking is a bit of a joke.

That’s nothing new, however, as McGregor’s leapfrogging of a packed lightweight fray for his third consecutive fight outside of his division – where the belt sits collecting dust since last December – has caused a drawn-out uproar amongst fans and fighters alike ever since it was booked.

One lightweight who shares that sentiment is Michael Chiesa, who currently sits on the sidelines awaiting his recovery from the back injury that forced him out of a potentially great main event against Tony Ferguson this summer.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, ‘Maverick’ had some harsh criticism for ‘Notorious’ and his title shot, believing him to be in over his head as an easy out at 155:

I think it’s bullshit. I feel bad for the guys that have been leaped-frog by him. I do understand that there is an entertainment aspect to the sport and to this promotion, but I think you have to maintain the sport before you let a guy make moves like that. Do I like him being in my weight class? Yeah, because it’s a big money fight and I match up really well against him. I mean, I’d be one body-lock away from subbing him.

“Other than that, it doesn’t really… you know, I just feel bad for the Tony Fergusons, and the Nurmagomedovs, and these guys that have racked up these huge win streaks and they’re getting leaped-frogged by a dude, who really, I mean, we’ll find out if he has any business in our division on November 12, but until then, I don’t think he’s in the right spot. He needs to go back and do what’s right. He’s got Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis in his own weight class to deal with. So I hope Eddie puts him back down to 145, but if not welcome to your new home, welcome to the deep waters.

Chiesa’s far from the first fighter to question McGregor’s ground game, but it’s also difficult to question the Irish champ at least deserving a spot in the stacked 155-pound division, as he just beat top-ranked veteran Nate Diaz in a knockdown barnburner at August’s UFC 202. We’ll soon find out if he can beat the current best lightweight onthe planet, and if he does, a decision will have to be made about which title McGregor will defend next.

He’s already beaten Holloway, and Pettis, despite being an enticing style match-up with McGregor, has only won one fight at 145 pounds after dropping three straight at lightweight. That would mean bouts with Ferguson and/or Nurmagomedov could be on the horizon for ‘Notorious,’ and those would obviously be huge fights that were tough to pick.

With McGregor teasing some significant time off after UFC 205, we may unfortunately never get to see him take on the most dangerous 155-pound talent in the world.

Would he falter like Chiesa thinks he would, or would he rise to the occasion and silence his doubting peers?

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