Although Michael Chiesa didn’t give his callout in 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 much time on the mic after his first-round submission of Tony Ferguson at Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Instead, “Maverick” gave up a portion of his time on the mic to Ferguson, who he expected to announce his retirement after losing his eighth consecutive UFC bout.
However, it didn’t take Chiesa long to find another mic and camera in the back to deliver a post-fight call out, and it was a fiery one.
“Yes, there is something I want to f*cking say,” Chiesa started in a post-fight interview backstage with UFC.com’s McKenzie Pavacich. “I want to fight Colby Covington. I’ve been saying this for years. Look, the guy can sit on the sidelines and say whatever he wants, whatever. I’m not chasing the ranking. I don’t give a sh*t. I just want to find out who is the best fighter, who is the best welterweight in the Pacific Northwest.
“I know he resides in Dade County, ‘Mr. 305,’ but let’s find out who’s the best in the northwest. Is it me or is it you? That’s what I want to find out.”
"I feel very redeemed."
Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) believes all the hurdles were worth it to get his hand raised at #UFCAbuDhabi
Results, Interviews & More : https://t.co/dXOCcJICoV#InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi
— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 3, 2024
Covington was last in action in a third attempt to capture the UFC’s welterweight title at UFC 296. He came up short against then-champion Leon Edwards, continuing a trend of alternating wins and losses over his last six fights.
Chiesa’s win over Ferguson snapped a three-fight skid stretching back to 2021. Now the Washington-born welterweight wants to mix it up with Covington, who was born in California but grew up in Oregon.
“Are you going to idly sit around and do nothing, or are you going to come back and fight?” Chiesa said. “Keep your ranking. I don’t give a sh*t. I just want to find out who’s the best in the northwest.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
