Though Michael Chiesa didn’t give his callout within the octagon after beating Tony Ferguson at UFC on ABC 7, he later made his intentions very clear.
Chiesa (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) didn’t spend a lot time on the mic after his first-round submission of Tony Ferguson at Etihad Area in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. As a substitute, “Maverick” gave up a portion of his time on the mic to Ferguson, who he anticipated to announce his retirement after dropping his eighth consecutive UFC bout.
Nonetheless, it didn’t take Chiesa lengthy to seek out one other mic and digicam within the again to ship a post-fight name out, and it was a fiery one.
“Sure, there’s something I need to f*cking say,” Chiesa began in a post-fight interview backstage with UFC.com’s McKenzie Pavacich. “I need to battle Colby Covington. I’ve been saying this for years. Look, the man can sit on the sidelines and say no matter he needs, no matter. I’m not chasing the rating. I don’t give a sh*t. I simply need to discover out who’s the very best fighter, who’s the very best welterweight within the Pacific Northwest.
“I do know he resides in Dade County, ‘Mr. 305,’ however let’s discover out who’s the very best within the northwest. Is it me or is it you? That’s what I need to discover out.”
“I really feel very redeemed.”
Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) believes all of the hurdles had been price it to get his hand raised at #UFCAbuDhabi
Outcomes, Interviews & Extra ➡️: https://t.co/dXOCcJICoV#InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi
— UFC Information (@UFCNews) August 3, 2024
Covington was final in motion in a 3rd try to seize the UFC’s welterweight title at UFC 296. He got here up quick in opposition to then-champion Leon Edwards, persevering with a pattern of alternating wins and losses over his final six fights.
Chiesa’s win over Ferguson snapped a three-fight skid stretching again to 2021. Now the Washington-born welterweight needs to combine it up with Covington, who was born in California however grew up in Oregon.
“Are you going to idly sit round and do nothing, or are you going to come back again and battle?” Chiesa stated. “Hold your rating. I don’t give a sh*t. I simply need to discover out who’s the very best within the northwest.”
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