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Michael Chiesa is a planner.
When he sets foot in the octagon, the old Ultimate fighter the winner usually has an idea of what name they will call after a win. That was not the case on Wednesday, however, as he dominated Neil Magny for a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Island 8.
Instead, Chiesa decided to turn his attention to the same fighter he called up after his loss to Rafael dos Anjos a year ago.
“The elections are over,” Chiesa said. “Colby Covington, your schtick is finished. I want you then, my boy.
Calculated as that call might seem to have fallen on inauguration day and Covington’s close relationship with former President Donald Trump, Chiesa was more about competition than trying to create a sensation on the mic.
“Because he’s the toughest game for me,” Chiesa explained at the UFC Fight Island 8 post-fight press conference when asked why Covington was the fighter he was. wanted to face then. “Stylistically, this guy should beat me any Sunday. From a physical standpoint, from a mental warfare standpoint, there aren’t a lot of boxes you can tick that favor me for this fight.
“But how do I say I want to be a champion if I don’t want to fight these guys?” Sometimes the best guys are the stylistically toughest guys. So when I look at the top five, I think it’s the hardest fight for me. We’ll see what happens. If I come short I come short but I want the best so I have to fight the best and that’s the guy.
Covington comes off an uneven victory over former champion and former training partner Tyron Woodley, which ended a heated rivalry that stretched back several years.
Since that time, the former interim welterweight champion has engaged in talks for a showdown with another former teammate of Jorge Masvidal, but no deal has been reached.
Chiesa can’t say for sure if his call will catch Covington’s attention, but he does let the right-wing fire mark know that there is at least one welterweight on the roster more than willing to sign the contract for the combat.
“Not many guys are asking to fight Colby Covington,” Chiesa said. “The only guys I can think of are me and Belal Muhammed and [Gilbert] Burn. Burns asked to fight him. But we’ll see what happens.
“It was a hip blow. Usually in a fight I always think about who I’m going to call next and get something in mind. This fight was a clean slate, and I don’t know maybe I should be a pro wrestler or something, it was totally hip.
Hoping to stay active in 2021 after spending most of the past year, Chiesa won’t spend too much time chasing after Covington. But he will remain hopeful that the fight could come to fruition as he continues to seek a path that eventually leads to the title contention.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “If he gets the fight from Jorge Masvidal, more power for him. It’s a big fight. They probably do The ultimate fighter or something. We’ll see what happens, but you need to get your shot in the game.
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