TLDR
- Michael Chiesa submitted Niko Price via rear-naked choke in 63 seconds at UFC Seattle
- Chiesa retired from MMA with a four-fight winning streak
- Three of Chiesa’s final four fights ended by rear-naked choke submission
- Chiesa confirmed his retirement is permanent, stating “This is the end”
- The victory capped a winning streak that included wins over Tony Ferguson and Rafael Dos Anjos
Sources: RotoBaller | BJ Penn | MMA Junkie | Sherdog
Michael Chiesa ended his mixed martial arts career with a dominant first-round submission victory over Niko Price at UFC Seattle on Saturday night. The fight lasted just 63 seconds before Price tapped out to a rear-naked choke.
Chiesa secured an early takedown and quickly took Price’s back before locking in the fight-ending submission. He did not land a single strike during the brief contest.
The win marks Chiesa’s fourth consecutive victory to close out his UFC tenure. His winning streak includes victories over Tony Ferguson, Rafael Dos Anjos, Max Griffin, and Court McGee.
Michael “Maverick” Chiesa gets to ride off into the sunset with submission victory in his home state of Washington 💪🏼#UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/5xa0YTZFbj
— FightTalk (@Fight_Talk_) March 29, 2026
Chiesa Confirms Retirement Plans
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Chiesa made it clear he has no plans to return to competition. “This is the end,” Chiesa told reporters. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chiesa described his final fight week as “incredible” and “surreal.” He said the experience cemented his decision to retire from professional fighting.
“It doesn’t get better than this,” Chiesa explained. “Just this entire week. Then everything that happened in the fight and the way it happened.”
When asked if he might be tempted out of retirement, Chiesa dismissed the possibility entirely. He plans to keep his gloves on the shelf permanently.
A Career Built on Grappling Excellence
Three of Chiesa’s final four fights ended with rear-naked choke submissions. Only his win over Court McGee went the distance, resulting in a unanimous decision victory.
Chiesa admitted he stayed focused on the task at hand during his final fight week rather than soaking up the moment. “Do I wish I stopped and soaked it up a little bit? Maybe,” he said. “But I had a fight to deal with but it was best I just stay locked in and approached it like every other fight.”
The approach clearly worked for the 36-year-old veteran. Fans in attendance praised Chiesa’s dominant performance against the durable Price, who is known for his toughness.
Chiesa competed on the main card of UFC’s return to Seattle. The event featured several other high-profile bouts on the night.
Throughout his career, Chiesa built a reputation as a skilled grappler with dangerous submission skills. His ability to control opponents on the ground and find finishing positions defined his fighting style.
The rear-naked choke that ended his career came at 1:03 of the first round. Chiesa’s quick work left little doubt about his technical superiority in the matchup.
Price had no answer for Chiesa’s wrestling and back control. The submission specialist made his final octagon appearance count with a textbook performance.
Chiesa leaves the sport on his own terms with a four-fight winning streak. His retirement decision appears final based on his emphatic statements to the media following the victory.
