Michael Chiesa had a successful retirement at UFC Seattle, and he plans on making his exit permanent.
Chiesa shared the Octagon with Niko Price on the main card of UFC’s return to Seattle this past Saturday. It only took Chiesa just over a minute to submit Price via rear-naked choke. “The Maverick” has ended his pro MMA career on a four-fight winning streak.
Speaking to reporters during the UFC Seattle post-fight press conference, Chiesa said he felt fight week was the perfect storm that ended as well as he could’ve hoped (via MMAJunkie).
“This week has been incredible,” Chiesa said. “It’s been surreal and it just cements my retirement. It doesn’t get better than this. Just this entire week. Then everything that happened in the fight and the way it happened.”
As far as whether or not there’s a chance Chiesa could be lured out of retirement, “The Maverick” plans to keep his gloves on the shelf for good.
“This is the end,” Chiesa said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Three of Chiesa’s final four bouts ended in a rear-naked choke win. The lone exception was a unanimous decision victory over Court McGee. Chiesa defeated Price, McGee, Max Griffin, and Tony Ferguson in the final stretch of his fighting career.
Chiesa admitted that he didn’t exactly stop and smell the roses during his final fight week, but perhaps that’s why he had the storybook ending.
“Do I wish I stopped and soaked it up a little bit? Maybe,” Chiesa said. “But I had a fight to deal with but it was best I just stay locked in and approached it like every other fight.”
Which Michael Chiesa fight stands out to you the most? Take a stroll down memory lane and share your opinion in the comments below.