Michael Chiesa celebrates after picking up a win over Diego Sanchez at UFC 239.
Michael Chiesa explains callout of Colby Covington after UFC Raleigh
Michael Chiesa picked up the biggest win of his career on Saturday night at UFC Raleigh. There, he defeated Rafael dos Anjos by decision. The win should put Chiesa into the top-five of the welterweight division and seemingly be one or two fights away from a title shot.
After his win, Chiesa had one message for his post-fight speech and that was a callout of Colby Covington who’s coming off a loss to Kamaru Usman for the belt at UFC 245. Why he decided to call out “Chaos” was simple.
I just beat the No. 5-ranked guy in the world, and I always say the most important time to ask for a fight is after you win,” Chiesa said at the post-fight media scrum (via MMAFighting). “You’ve got to capitalize. I’m not out to engage in some verbal pissing match with [Covington]; I respect his skills and he’s super tough. I’m just trying to get to a world title. And I think that’s the fight that makes the most sense when you look at the top-five. I said before the fight, I beat Rafael dos Anjos; I’m not fighting anybody that’s ranked less than five. I’m taking his spot and just looking at the landscape of the division, that’s the fight that makes sense.
“I want to be tested, I want to fight the best, so Colby it is.”
With many expecting Usman to fight Jorge Masvidal and Tyron Woodley and Leon Edwards booked, Chiesa knows the timing of his callout makes sense. He also expects it to happen.
“I kind of waited to see how [UFC] 245 ended and just kind of wanted to see what happened with Tyron and Leon and everybody,” Chiesa said. “But I think it’s a fight that makes sense, and I wouldn’t go ask for some outlandish matchup. Anytime I’ve won a fight and asked for an opponent, I’ve usually gotten it, and that’s because it’s all well-thought-out. I just don’t throw things against the wall that aren’t gonna stick. I just think it’s a fight that makes sense, I think it’s a fight I could get, so we’ll see what happens.”
In the end, Michael Chiesa knows Colby Covington is a tough matchup for him. But, he is eager to test himself against one of the best.
