Michael Chiesa has been there and done that in his more than a decade in the UFC. Except, of course, for fighting for a title. ‘Maverick’, who was just five fights into his pro-MMA career before he won season 15 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ in 2012, has spent almost his entire fighting career in the UFC.

Having been a staple of the two most competitive weight classes in the UFC (lightweight and now the 170-pound welterweight division), a title shot still eludes the Washington state resident. However, ‘Maverick’ is still ‘obsessed’ with the sport and determined to become champ one day. Guiding and helping him through this journey, have been his coaches and teammates.

Michael Chiesa’s gym and teammates

Like many of his American counterparts, Michael Chiesa’s martial arts journey began in high school. The Spokane Valley, Washington resident started wrestling in high school, during which time he discovered and soon fell in love with mixed martial arts.

By the time he graduated from Shadle Park High School, ‘Maverick’ knew what he wanted to do in his life – become an MMA champion. The 170-pounder has been training at the ‘Sikjitsu’ gym in his native Eastern Washington city of Spokane.

This gym, of course, is the stomping ground for fellow UFC star and former women’s bantamweight champion (and fellow TUF alumni) Julianna Pena; as well as former UFC lightweight Sam Sicilia, along with a bevy of young, up-and-coming mixed martial artists. Along with his MMA training, however, ‘Maverick’ remains a grappler at heart, whose BJJ skills have made him a serious threat on the ground.

Michael Chiesa’s MMA and BJJ coaches: Is he a black belt?

Michael Chiesa’s strongest suit is his grappling, which he has put to very good use throughout his MMA career. This should come as no surprise given he came into the sport with a wrestling base. Of his sixteen career wins, over sixty percent have come via submissions.

However, Chiesa is not a black belt. Yet. ‘Maverick’ currently holds a brown belt, but is working hard towards a black belt. In July 2024, the UFC star took to Instagram and revealed that he had earned ‘another notch’ on his brown belt, putting him one step closer to the vaunted black belt.

As far as MMA is concerned, the Spokane native trains under his head coach, Rick Little. On the other hand, he sharpens his grappling under the tutelage of former BJJ no-gi world champion Richard Weed at the latter’s Newborn Jiu Jitsu gym, also located in Spokane.