Michael Chiesa Quotes

I already knew a lot about the ground aspects of MMA, being a wrestler, but there was so much more. There was kicking, punching, and other things I wish I could have done as a wrestler. It really stoked my interest.

There's no question in my mind that the times I was in my prime, I was the most well-rounded fighter out there - or in the world. I was the one who knew how to kickbox. I did kickbox and muay thai, I competed in events in Japan, and I was a submission specialist. Going into the UFC for the first time, I was the most well-rounded fighter there.

If I were to fight Khabib, guaran-damn-tee you I would throw him from his feet to his back and beat him like in sambo like a five-point move in wrestling. That's my background.

Obviously wrestling is a core component of MMA. And among UFC fighters, my take-down defence is considered quite high.

I got into the UFC after six months of training. I started doing jiu-jitsu, had my first fight, tried out for 'The Ultimate Fighter,' and got on.

Everyone thinks Australia and New Zealand MMA fighters don't have that wrestling base, whereas a lot of Americans and other countries have, with them being able to do wrestling at high-school levels.

I'm in the UFC; this is a sport about fighting. If someone wants to fight me, or someone wants to fight someone else... you're here to fight each other, so I get it.

I used to laugh at MMA and say 'do you know what a boxer would do to an MMA guy?' and then I got educated on the truth.

Mixed martial arts is great, and it's here to stay.

I didn't really have intentions of fighting in MMA; it just kind of fell into place. Once I started fighting, though, I loved it, and I walked away from kickboxing right away.

I've been training for Ronda Rousey since my first fight in the UFC.

I started doing martial arts since I was 12, and then I went into wrestling in college. After I met John Hackleman, I started getting really serious about it, and after a few amateur fights, I got an invite to the UFC and have been in love with it ever since.

I'll use wrestling if I need to in fights, but maybe I'll fight another wrestler, and you'll find out how good my striking is.

Back in '93 I saw my first UFC fight and just became enamored by it then.

I've been involved in mixed martial arts since 1997 when I first started working for the UFC.

GSP is at the top of my list in knowing how to use strategy, how to bring an opponent out of his game, how to beat a guy without taking a beating. And he's good in standup and good at grappling.

I came to the UFC to fight with top-level fighters and become the undisputed, undefeated champion. This is my goal.

I trained karate in 2001 to fight Heath Herring.

I knew that Michael Bisping didn't have good wrestling or grappling. I knew this guy had nothing for St-Pierre.

I think Kevin Lee is an excellent fighter who fights well on the feet, has evolved in that area, but his strongest weapon is wrestling, not jiu-jitsu.

I always wanted to fight Cormier. He has this fighting style, he's a warrior, I always wanted to fight someone like him, a guy like 'Rampage,' someone who moves forward and fights.

I have always been a big fan of combat sports - ever since I can remember, it was something that appealed to me and something that I thought I would be good at.

I think martial arts, in general, shaped my wrestling style. I think I grew up as a martial artist as a kid.

I watched the UFC way back in the day, before there were time limits. I always knew it's what I wanted to do some day.

When I first started wrestling, I didn't even want people to know I was in the UFC.