Michael Chiesa is set to face Kevin Holland in the UFC 291 main card opener, marking Chiesa’s first fight in nearly two years, and despite recent losses and a long gap between winning fights, Chiesa asserts that he feels great, doesn’t feel pressure, and is looking forward to the fight.
Michael Chiesa is scheduled to fight against Kevin Holland in UFC 291 this weekend, marking his return to the octagon after nearly two years. Originally, Chiesa was set to face Li Jingliang at UFC 287 in April, but when Li was injured, Chiesa got bumped off the card. Chiesa notes that despite the long layoff since his last fight, he is not feeling any extra pressure and is actually feeling great. He reflects that the previous issues may have been a blessing in disguise as he doesn’t believe in ring rust, but does acknowledge the reality of camp rust.
Most of Chiesa’s thoughts are centered on the fight with Holland, rather than focusing on his long absence. Chiesa shared that he feels prepared and ready to fight. He says, “It feels like I never left. It doesn’t feel like my last fight was almost two years ago. The last big card I was on was 265 in Houston. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been away.” Eager to return to competition, he remarks “I was born to do this and it just feels good to be back at fight week.”
Some concerns about Chiesa’s comeback include his record in recent fights and the formidable opponent he will face on his return. Chiesa has to face off with Holland, a popular UFC fighter known for his energetic style and constant dialogue during fights. Despite losses to Sean Brady and Vicente Luque in his most recent appearances, Chiesa expresses a lot of enthusiasm about the forthcoming bout, “I’ve never wanted an easy fight and I feel like Kevin and I have been on a collision course to face each other,” he said.
Chiesa’s training partners even mimicked Holland’s habit of talking during fights to help him prepare. When one of his partners, Chase Hooper, began trash-talking him during sparring sessions, Chiesa described it as a surprise, but didn’t feel antagonized, saying, ‘What did I do to you?’ He remains firm that he does not feel any extra pressure due to the layoff and maintains a positive attitude heading into his crucial matchup against the UFC’s No. 12-ranked welterweight.