The Ultimate Fighter 15 champion Michael Chiesa is done with the UFC’s lightweight division after 11 bouts. In an interview with MMA Fighting, ‘Maverick’ claimed he was unable to fight at his full potential while cutting weight to make the weight class’ 155 lb limit.
So, for his next outing, Chiesa will make his welterweight debut, a decision he claims to be a strategic one, because he plans to get back into title contention as quickly as possible in 2019.
“Just to get back to contention,” Chiesa said. “I got as high as being ranked 7th at lightweight and I really believe this deep down to my bones that I was really only fighting to half my potential.