Who Has Michael Chiesa Lost To? MMA Losses, Record, Stats, and More

Michael Chiesa has been in the UFC for over a decade. Over his twelve years in the world’s largest combat sports promotion, ‘Maverick’ has seen it all. After all, the BJJ brown belt was just four fights into his pro-MMA career before he was called to ‘The Ultimate Fighter’s season 15 in 2012.

Inexperienced and undefeated coming into the UFC, the Colorado native has been a staple of the lightweight and now, welterweight divisions of the Las Vegas-based promotion. Now an aspiring commentator, the 36-year-old, unlike most of his classmates, is still going strong and still determined to become a UFC champion. However, a recent string of losses has seemingly slowed down his plans.

Michael Chiesa’s current losing streak: 3 back-to-back defeats

It all started to go wrong for ‘Maverick’ with his UFC 265 clash against the ever-exciting Vicente Luque in August 2021. Chiesa started off slow, content to circle and let Luque try to pressure him. Midway through the ground, ‘Maverick’ rushed in for a double-leg, successfully taking Luque to the ground. However, after about half a minute of squirming, Luque managed to break free, and turned the tables on Chiesa, catching him in a fantastic D’Arce choke. Chiesa, realizing he had been bested, tapped and lost his first fight of 2021.

Determined to make a quick turnaround, Chiesa decided to make a relatively quick turnaround, returning to the octagon three months later against another dangerous opponent. The Spokane resident faced then-undefeated Sean Brady on the co-main event of a Fight Night card, which handed him his second consecutive loss of 2021.

Brady’s ground game and durability proved too good for Chiesa, who did have some good moments. In the third round, ‘Maverick’ caught Brady with some fantastic combinations, rocking him, and seemingly close to snapping his winning streak. However, Brady managed a takedown but Chiesa ended the round on top. However, he was unable to finish the job and lost a unanimous decision to Brady.

To take matters from bad to worse, Chiesa suffered a back injury the next year, which kept him out of action for almost two years. Finally, ‘Maverick’ returned to action in 2023, and faced a significant challenge in striking dynamo Kevin Holland, whom he faced on UFC 291.

Holland started off strong, dominating Chiesa on the feet with his world-class striking. After eating a few knees from the striker, a desperate Chiesa went in for another takedown attempt. However, his sloppiness allowed Holland to reverse, and he caught ‘Maverick’ in a fatal D’Arce choke, handing the TUF alumni his third loss in a row. However, this does not take away from his other accomplishments.

Other MMA losses and overall record for Michael Chiesa

Chiesa has spent the vast majority of mixed martial arts career in the UFC, coming into the promotion on an undefeated 5-0 record in 2012. Since then, he has fought eighteen times in the Dana White-led promotion and is 11-7 there at the moment, which has been made worse by his recent string of losses. Before his 3 back-to-back defeats, he previously lost to Anthony Pettis in 2018, to Kevin Lee in 2017, to Joe Lauzon in 2014, and to Jorge Masvidal in 2013.

However, Michael Chiesa’s overall record is much better at 16-7, with all of his losses coming in the UFC. Chiesa, of course, is also a TUF alumni, having won the fifteenth season of the reality show in 2012, despite going up against more experienced fighters there.

And despite calls for him to retire, especially because of his recent skid in form, the Spokane resident is as determined as ever to become a UFC champion. What are your thoughts on Michael Chiesa’s losses in the UFC?