Brett Okamoto
Multiple Authors
Michael Chiesa will make the ultimate stroll of his career on Saturday, regardless of a perception he is nonetheless getting higher at age 38. And an enormous purpose for that is his late grandfather.
Chiesa (19-7) will face Niko Price on the primary card of UFC Fight Night in Seattle. Win or lose, Chiesa, who is at the moment on a three-fight win streak going again to August 2024, has mentioned it is going to be his final look. The Washington native mentioned he relishes the chance to complete his career at house, but in addition instructed ESPN his determination to stroll away stems from his household’s expertise with his grandfather, native motorsports pioneer Darrell Triber.
“He promoted [motorcycle races],” Chiesa instructed ESPN. “He’s in the [Inland Empire] Hall of Fame for fast-track racing. He had a big impact on Evel Knievel’s career. He was my hero growing up, and he died racing his motorcycle. He was 67. He wasn’t supposed to be racing. It was the one race that my grandma and mom would not let me go with him. They didn’t want him to race.
“Ultimately, it took his life. Now, you speak about my career, God forbid I die in a fight however I do not wish to stick round too lengthy and have components of me taken away that I’ll by no means get again.”
Chiesa hasn’t fought since a call win over Court McGee in June 2025. He labored his strategy to potential title rivalry as a light-weight and welterweight however by no means fairly secured a UFC title shot. He admitted that attending to fight at house, on the primary card of a UFC occasion, is in all probability the largest platform he’ll get at this stage of his career — making it an ideal time to retire.
“This is my 22nd UFC fight,” Chiesa mentioned. “The number 22 is a very significant number to my family. That was my grandpa’s racing number. That’s why I have ’22’ tattooed on my chest. I have ’22’ on my wedding ring. I wear my grandpa’s wedding ring. And then, March 28 [Saturday] is my parents’ anniversary. So the universe is kind of telling me, ‘make this the last one.'”
