Although [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] didn’t make the call in the octagon after beating Tony Ferguson in the UFC on ABC 7he later made his intentions very clear.
Chiesa (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) didn’t spend much time at the microphone after submitting Tony Ferguson in the first round at the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Instead, “Maverick” ceded some of his microphone time to Ferguson, who he expected to announce his retirement after losing his eighth straight UFC fight.
However, it didn’t take long for Chiesa to find another microphone and camera in the back to make a post-fight call, and it was a fiery call.
“Yes, there is something I want to say,” Chiesa began in a backstage post-fight interview with UFC.com’s McKenzie Pavacich. “I want to fight Colby Covington. I’ve been saying this for years. Look, the guy can stay out of it and say whatever he wants, whatever he wants. t. I just want to find out who is the best fighter, who is the best welterweight in the Pacific Northwest.
“I know he lives in Dade County, ‘Mr. 305,’ but let’s find out who’s the best in the Northwest. Is it me or you? That’s what I want to find out.”
Covington was last in action in his third attempt to win the UFC welterweight title at UFC 296. He lost to then-champion Leon Edwards, continuing his trend of alternating wins and losses in his last six fights.
Chiesa’s win over Ferguson snapped a three-fight skid that dates back to 2021. Now the Washington-born welterweight wants to mix it up with Covington, who was born in California but raised in Oregon.
“Are you going to sit around and do nothing, or are you going to go back and fight?” Chiesa said. “Keep your rankings. I don’t give a shit. I just want to find out who’s the best in the northwest.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC on ABC 7.
This article was originally published on MMA Junkie: Michael Chiesa Taps Colby Covington to Determine ‘Best UFC Welterweight in the Pacific Northwest’
