Michael Chiesa makes his long-anticipated return to the UFC cage against Kevin Holland. Get all the details on this exciting welterweight matchup.
After a setback in April, welterweight fighter Michael Chiesa is finally returning to the cage. Chiesa, with a record of 18-6, was originally scheduled to fight Li Jingliang in April at UFC 287. However, Jingliang suffered a spinal injury and had to withdraw from the match. Now, Chiesa is set to face off against high-caliber opponent Kevin Holland, who has a record of 24-9.
Chiesa’s last fight took place in November 2021, where he suffered a loss against Sean Brady. Following the fight, Chiesa was forced to take a two-year hiatus due to a back injury caused by a weightlifting accident. Now, he is ready to step back into the octagon and prove himself once again.
Chiesa’s coach, Rick Little, expressed excitement about the upcoming fight, stating, "This fight has ‘exciting’ written all over it." Chiesa has been training with his teammates Brady Hiestand and Ashton Charlton, who also have fights scheduled in August. The addition of his fellow fighters has provided Chiesa with different training partners and perspectives.
In preparation for the fight, Chiesa has been training at a high altitude in Salt Lake City to acclimate to the 4,000-foot elevation. He is committed to addressing any areas of improvement during his training camp and is determined to do everything right for this fight.
Chiesa has been closely watching Holland’s career, even when Holland was fighting in the middleweight division. While Holland may not have a welterweight ranking, Chiesa recognizes his impressive resume and sees him as a formidable opponent. Holland has wins against notable fighters such as Geoff Neal, Joaquin Buckley, and Ronaldo Souza.
Despite the physical advantages that Holland possesses, including height and reach, Chiesa is confident in his ground game. With a submission win rate of 61%, Chiesa is known for his dominance on the ground. In contrast, Holland has a lower submission win rate of 25% and relies more on knockouts.
Chiesa’s coach expects the fight to have more stand-up exchanges than Chiesa’s previous fights, given Holland’s speed and agility. However, Chiesa is prepared for the challenge and believes he is just as skilled as his opponent. He embraces the underdog role and feels less pressure going into the fight.
Chiesa is excited to compete in Salt Lake City, a city that has seen success for athletes from his hometown of Spokane. He even plans to channel his inner John Stockton, the former NBA player for the Utah Jazz, by wearing a number 12 Utah Jazz jersey during fight week.
The highly anticipated fight between Chiesa and Holland will take place on Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Fans can purchase the pay-per-view event from ESPN.
Fight Summary
| Fighter | Result |
|---|---|
| Michael Chiesa | TBD |
| Kevin Holland | TBD |
Key Points
- Michael Chiesa is making his long-anticipated return to the UFC cage.
- Chiesa’s original fight in April was called off due to Li Jingliang’s spinal injury.
- Chiesa’s last fight ended in a loss against Sean Brady in November 2021.
- Chiesa has been training with teammates Brady Hiestand and Ashton Charlton.
- Chiesa has been preparing for the fight’s high altitude in Salt Lake City.
- Chiesa sees Kevin Holland as a formidable opponent despite his lack of welterweight ranking.
- Holland has a height and reach advantage over Chiesa, but Chiesa excels on the ground.
- Chiesa embraces the underdog role and feels less pressure going into the fight.
