Under helgens UFC Raleigh lyckades “The Ultimate Fighter 15” vinnaren Michael Chiesa plocka hem karriärens största vinst då han besegrade Rafael Dos Anjos via enhälligt domslut. Efter matchen valde Chiesa att utmana Colby Covington, som vi senast kunde se utmana welterviktsmästaren Kamaru Usman för dennes titel.
Chiesa valde att hålla intervjun efter matchen väldigt kort och när han talade med media efter matchen så gick han in på detalj kring varför han valde att utmana Covington. Han ser nämligen Covington som den match i rankingen som är mest logisk för honom efter att han besegrat Dos Anjos.
I just beat the No. 5-ranked guy in the world, and I always say the most important time to ask for a fight is after you win. You’ve got to capitalize. I’m not out to engage in some verbal pissing match with Covington, I respect his skills and he’s super tough. I’m just trying to get to a world title, and I think that’s the fight that makes the most sense when you look at the top-five. I said before the fight, I beat Rafael dos Anjos; I’m not fighting anybody that’s ranked less than five. I’m taking his spot and just looking at the landscape of the division, that’s the fight that makes sense. I want to be tested, I want to fight the best, so Colby it is.
Chiesa berättade även att innan han bestämde sig för vem han ville möta efter Dos Anjos så ville han se hur titelmatchen mellan Usman och Covington slutade samt så ville han se huruvida Leon Edwards och Tyron Woodley skulle möta varandra eller inte.
I kind of waited to see how UFC 245 ended and just kind of wanted to see what happened with Tyron and Leon and everybody. But I think it’s a fight that makes sense, and I wouldn’t go ask for some outlandish matchup. Anytime I’ve won a fight and asked for an opponent, I’ve usually gotten it, and that’s because it’s all well thought-out. I just don’t throw things against the wall that aren’t gonna stick. I just think it’s a fight that makes sense, I think it’s a fight I could get, so we’ll see what happens.
Chiesa berättade även att han ser Covington som en av viktklassens svårare fighters för honom själv, vilket passar honom då han vill visa att han kan besegra även dessa.
I just showed that I’m tough. I just went out there – look at the guys who have beat ‘RDA.’ Only the best guys have beat him. So I’d like to think that I’m gonna join the echelon of those fighters in that same aspect. I’m gonna become a champion. I proved that tonight. I went out and beat a championship-calibre fighter, and that’s it. I want to be great, I want to fight the best guys, I want to test myself, I want see what my limits are. I don’t think a lot of guys in this sport really have that mentality. I’m not out to find easy fights. Colby Covington’s a nightmare matchup for me, but I’m ready to walk through the fire. I want to fight the best guys.
Chiesa besegrade Dos Anjos under UFC Raleigh som ägde rum den 25:e januari i Raleigh, USA.
