Michael Chiesa
Active 2015–present · rated in 1 edition · peak overall 81.0
Scouting report
Born in Aurora, Colorado and representing Spokane, Washington under Sikjitsu, Michael "Maverick" Chiesa won The Ultimate Fighter Season 15 with chain wrestling and a rear-naked choke. Making a transition to welterweight contender, Chiesa captured decision wins over former champions Rafael dos Anjos, Carlos Condit, and Neil Magny, his submission skills reflected in an 88 BJJ score, 86 Wrestling, and 81 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
Michael Chiesa, the Spokane wrestler who won The Ultimate Fighter: Live
Michael Chiesa was born in Aurora, Colorado, and grew up near Spokane, Washington. He skateboarded until age eleven, then started wrestling and went on to wrestle at Shadle Park High School. He was undefeated in his first seven professional fights before joining The Ultimate Fighter: Live as a lightweight on Team Faber, where he beat Johnavan Vistante, Jeremy Larsen, Justin Lawrence and James Vick. He then submitted Al Iaquinta with a rear-naked choke to win the season.
Chiesa, attribute by attribute
Boxing. Serviceable at 75. He stopped James Vick by TKO in the semifinals of the show but does not rely on boxing.
Kickboxing. His lowest at 68. His wins came from position and submission rather than stand-up.
Wrestling. Strong at 86. He started wrestling after skateboarding until age eleven and wrestled at Shadle Park High School.
BJJ. His best at 88. Rear-naked chokes finished Iaquinta, Ferguson, Griffin and Price, and he also submitted Carlos Condit, Beneil Dariush and Jim Miller.
Strength. Solid at 80. He won decisions over Diego Sanchez and Rafael dos Anjos.
Durability. Reasonable at 80. Joe Lauzon stopped him on a cut in round two in 2014, and Jorge Masvidal caught him with a d'arce choke in 2013.
Cardio. Good at 85. He won a five-round decision over Magny and a Fight of the Night against Jim Miller.
Fight IQ. Good at 82. On the show he won a sudden-victory round against Justin Lawrence.
BJJ is the identity: 88
BJJ at 88 is the top rating, and the record is full of it. He won The Ultimate Fighter: Live with a first-round rear-naked choke of Al Iaquinta, submitted Beneil Dariush and Carlos Condit, and finished Tony Ferguson in 2024 and Max Griffin that December with rear-naked chokes. His final fight in March 2026 ended with a first-round rear-naked choke of Niko Price. He is a dependable submission threat.
Kickboxing is the thin spot: 68
Kickboxing at 68 is his lowest number. In defeats to Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland he was finished by brabo choke, and Sean Brady beat him on the scorecards in 2021. If a fight stays on the feet against a good kicker, he has to close distance and drag it to the mat, as he does best.
Keep exploring
Closest welterweight profiles to Michael Chiesa, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Jake Shieldsbest bjj 92 · weakest kickboxing 64
- Dong Hyun Kimbest wrestling 85 · weakest kickboxing 72
- Jon Fitchbest cardio 92 · weakest kickboxing 68
- Demian Maiabest bjj 98 · weakest kickboxing 66
- Welterweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Michael Chiesa's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Michael Chiesa into your build
Michael Chiesa enters the pool on any spin landing on welterweight between 2020 and 2022. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Michael Chiesa is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Michael Chiesa's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.