“170 is not a popularity contest. 170 is a working man's weight class where you work hard, you get your rewards whereas at lightweight, it wasn't the same. You could work as hard as you want, win as many fights as you want, and there's no promise what you're going to get out of it.”

American former professional mixed martial artist and sports analyst

Michael Keith Chiesa is an American former professional mixed martial artist and sports analyst. He competed in the UFC’s welterweight division and was active as a professional from 2008 to 2026. He is best known for winning the inaugural season of FX’s The Ultimate Fighter: Live. Chiesa built his reputation in mixed martial arts through his UFC career, where he fought at welterweight after emerging from The Ultimate Fighter. He also works as a sports analyst, and his public profile is tied mainly to his time in the octagon and his later commentary on the sport.