Chiesa: McGregor won’t end year as Lightweight champ
Chiesa says McGregor cannot win against fighters coming up in the Lightweight Division.
Sooner or later, Conor is going to have to come out and fight. Whether he’s taking this hiatus himself or the company is putting him on ice, who knows? But I don’t see him staying champion. I know he’s good. I’m not knocking him. We have to recognize the guy can f-cking fight. But you have to look at the guys coming up in the lightweight division. Tony Ferguson and Khabib, you have to fight the winner of that fight. I mean, dude, you’re good, but you’re going up against a guy who is 24-0, multiple sambo world champion, or a guy that would be on a 10-fight win streak. Conor is good, but I really don’t think he’s a true lightweight. That’s what I’m saying. With the landscape of this division, I don’t see Conor ending his year as champion. And you put me in there, I’m going to drag him to the ground and beat him too. I’m a huge lightweight. I’m as big as Nate or bigger, and we saw how many problems Nate gave him.
Chiesa and Lee scuffle at UFC Summer Kickoff
During the UFC Summer Kickoff Presser, after Lee mentions that Chiesa’s mother would be in attendance to see her son lose, Chiesa becomes enraged, and shouts at Lee to not mention his mother before running across the stage. In response, Lee gets on his feet and hits Chiesa with a right as security intervenes and escorts them both off the stage.
Don’t you ever talk about my mom!
Lee: I’m gonna beat the f-ck out of Michael Chiesa!
After their scuffle at UFC Summer Kickoff, Lee says he is going to give Chiesa a beat down.
I talk shit and I like to fight. He couldn’t get a word in. I was spitting some real truth to him. When I say I’m gonna change his life, I don’t mean it like Conor, like he’s gonna make him some money. He gonna wake up on June 26, and he not gonna be the same man as the day before…I’m gonna beat the f-ck out of him. I could sit on the beach and drink vodka for the next six weeks and I’d beat the hell out of the man.
Chiesa: It ‘sucks’ McGregor is holding up entire lightweight division
Chiesa says he’s annoyed at McGregor holding up the Lightweight Division.
We don’t need to beat around the bush. Conor’s doing what he’s doing is f-cking retarded. What Conor is doing is ridiculous. It’s a tricky decision, and it’s all tricky because we’re sitting and waiting for one guy to do something, and you’ve got 10 guys spring loaded to do something. Like we’re all gunning to be world champion and it sucks just having to sit back and wait to see what this guy does…By the time the Floyd [Mayweather] fight happens, his belt will have not moved for a year. This division has already been plagued by delays. Look when [Anthony] Pettis was champion, how many fights we had. We had none. There’s never been an interim title. Once again the lightweight division is backlogged so it kind of sucks. It really does…I’ll maintain my relevance, I’ll go up to 170 [pounds] and fight guys until Conor starts making moves and then I’ll come back down. The lightweight division is the most competitive in the world and it’s a shame that we don’t get the chance to showcase it because we have a champion that’s sitting around. As upset as I am in the state of the lightweight division, I’d probably do the same thing if I were Conor and I had $100 million waiting for me. I don’t blame him for doing what he’s doing but it sucks for the rest of us.
McGregor attacks UFC bus, injures Chiesa
McGregor crashes UFC 222 Media Day, held at Barclays Center in New York City, an event intended to promote the upcoming lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway. McGregor, along with a group of men, chases after a coach carrying a number of UFC fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor takes a dolly from the side of the garage and throws it at the coach, breaking a window. Chiesa suffers cuts from broken glass. Chiesa’s coach:
Conor went bananas and put a beating on the van that we were in looking for Khabib. A million security guards had to restrain him. Mike’s cut up now. He’s got marks on him, for sure. I don’t think it’s too serious.
Chiesa: McGregor bus attack cost UFC title shot
Chiesa says McGregor’s bus attack cost him a shot to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov after Max Holloway had pulled out. Chiesa feels had he been healthy, he would have been the clear replacement.
I don’t really got a lot to say to the guy. I lost a title shot. I have proof. I was the highest-ranked guy on the card. I would have stepped in to fight Khabib at the drop of a dime. I’ve always loved the fight with Khabib. Bless his heart, he’s a cool ass guy. But this is a sport and I’ve always liked the way I matched up against him and I got f*cked out of that opportunity. I don’t really have too many kind things to say to [McGregor]. You work your whole life for those kinds of opportunities. Do I want mine on short order? No, I’d love a training camp. Like I said, if they walk in the door now and say, ‘Hey, do you want to fight for the title in the next 10 minutes?’ I’m out the door, I’m warming up, I’m ready to go…To lose the opportunity, that’s tough. You know how this sport works, guys. Opportunities like that don’t come along. I could strike along 15 wins in a row and still not get a title shot and I lost my opportunity and my dream. I hope that I’m gonna fight my ass off to earn it back starting on July 7 against Anthony Pettis. But yeah, tough pill to swallow.
McGregor sued by Chiesa over New York bus attack
Chiesa sues McGregor for causing him physical and psychological harm when McGregor hurled a metal dolly at the window of a bus at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn. Chiesa, who said he was pulled from UFC 223 after the incident, claims he has suffered financial damage as a result of the incident and it has affected his future earnings. The size of damages being sought has not been disclosed, although his lawyers say it “exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower courts”. The document lists claims for damages for negligence, assault, battery and “intentional infliction of emotional distress”. Chiesa’s lawyers say:
[he was] rendered sick, sore, lame and disabled; that he has experienced pain, suffering and a loss of enjoyment of life and will experience same in future.