Michael Chiesa says Tony Ferguson battle is smart: 'It's not like they threw him to the wolves'

Michael Chiesa doesn’t get the criticism behind preventing Tony Ferguson.

Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) takes on the skidding Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) in a welterweight bout at UFC on ABC 7, which takes place Aug. 3 card in Abu Dhabi.

With Nick Diaz returning in opposition to Vicente Luque on the identical card, many thought it might have made extra sense for Diaz to battle Ferguson, and Chiesa run issues again with Luque. Nonetheless, Chiesa says he’s additionally on a dropping streak.

“There’s undoubtedly folks which might be sending me messages like, ‘Take it simple on him – please let him win,’” Chiesa mentioned on The MMA Hour. “I’m like, you’ve acquired to recollect, dude, on the finish of the day, that is nonetheless Tony Ferguson. He’s not preventing a man that’s in his 20s on a win streak. He’s preventing a man that’s 36 and is 0-3 in his final three fights. It’s not like they threw him to the wolves. It’s a battle that actually is smart.

“And I like the thought of preventing Vicente Luque once more. That’s a battle the place I really feel like I beat myself greater than I acquired beat by the higher man. That is the battle that they provided, and that is the battle that I’m going to take. Particularly given the historical past, it’s one thing that I wish to simply have the ability to say, I went on the market and did the dance with him. Look, on the finish of the day, if he beats me, he beats me. It’s what it’s. But it surely’s not like he’s getting thrown in there with some younger whippersnapper, ?”

Chiesa was scheduled to face Ferguson July 2016 at UFC Struggle Night time 91, however was pressured out of the battle attributable to again damage. He was changed by newcomer Lando Vannata, who pushed Ferguson to the brink however was finally submitted.

No matter Ferguson’s present kind having misplaced seven straight, Chiesa is simply blissful to get one other alternative to battle him.

“That is the battle that’s meant to occur,” Chiesa mentioned. “This battle’s meant to be. And folks can say what they need concerning the present state of his profession, however I’m coaching for the man who was on the 12-fight win streak. I’m not interested by the shortcomings. I’m in the identical boat as him. I’m coaching for the most effective Tony Ferguson. I’m coaching for the man I used to be speculated to battle eight years in the past.”