Michael Chiesa can definitely be considered one of the most promising MMA fighters in the UFC.
The Ultimate Fighting 15 winner was able to achieve a solid 5-2 fighting record ever since he won the season back in 2012. Aside from this, Chiesa was able to dominate important bouts against Mitch Clarke and Al Laquinta. Unfortunately, misfortune and inconsistency didn’t allow Chiesa to land a chance to be in a title fight. Now that he is hours away from UFC Fight Night 80, where he will be fighting Jim Miller, Chiesa is more than ready to call his shot.
“This is it, I’m going on my run, man. It starts now. Jim is ranked 14th. I’m going everywhere and up. By the time I get done with 2016, I swear to God, I’m going to be in the top-five. I don’t care what it takes, and it starts with Jim. I got a lot of respect for all the guys in this division, but you’re not going to stop me, man. It’s my time,” Chiesa said during a recent interview last Tuesday.
Jim Miller’s achievements is a definitely a dream for any MMA lightweight fighter aspirant. At just 32 years old, Miller was able to achieve 14 wins at the 155-pound division, which is definitely a great record in the UFC lightweight history. Miller is a perfect example for any aspirant like Chiesa. Unfortunately, Miller has been claiming that he is now entering his prime even though he is relatively young; Chiesa’s idol has been facing bout losses left and right. Miller even managed to win just five out of his 10 bouts since 2011.
In light of this situation, Chiesa said that the opportunity he’s been waiting for is finally in front of him.
“He’s a better hunter than me, probably makes better beer. But I don’t think he’s a better fighter. He’s tough. Like I said, I got a lot of respect for him and all these guys in the division, but I feel like I’m the best in the world. I train with some of the best in the world. I’ve done well and I perform well. Think about this: I finish every fight. And if I don’t finish and go to a decision, I win 10-8 rounds. How many guys do you know in the lightweight division who’ve had fights where they have gotten two 10-8 rounds scored? Think about it. I’m a winner. I’m just going to go out and prove it on Thursday,” Chiesa said.
Chiesa’s story in the promotion is a perfect example of how difficult it is to catch a big break in the division despite the impressive skills that the fighter has. If that’s not difficult enough, the lightweight division is known to be one of the most stacked weight classes in the MMA industry.
Despite these obstacles, however, Chiesa knows that as long as he pushes hard enough to accomplish what he is aiming for next year, the attention and the spotlight will naturally follow him. And that dreams starts when wins over Miller this upcoming bout.
“Jim is a tough guy. We’ve seen time and time again that he performs. He’s one of the best. He’s one of the most winning lightweights in UFC history, so it’s one of those things where I’m just looking to take advantage of the opportunity. I got all the respect for him in the world. I think Jim is a great guy, but I’ve got to go out and beat him up, and I’ve got to go out and make my run. He had his time. I haven’t had mine yet, so it starts on Thursday,” Chiesa said.