“What if I could just focus on fighting? What would that be like? What would it be like to take advantage of all the resources this place has to offer? Because you're not doing it when you're cutting weight all the time.”

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.