“I'm not here to be mediocre. I'm not in the UFC just to get a paycheck and make a living. That's really not what I'm here for. If I wanted to make money, I would have gotten out of the sport and done something else. I want to be a world champion.”

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.