Grieving Chiesa proves ‘TUF’ enough to go on
Fighters sequestered in “The Ultimate Fighter” house in Las Vegas are rarely allowed to leave except to go to the gym, or even have much contact with the outside world, while filming the reality show.
Nobody would’ve blamed Mike Chiesa had he not come back to such an isolated environment, far from his family, after he was allowed one day to return home to Spokane, Wash., for his father’s funeral.
Chiesa’s father, Mark, died at age 53 on March 10 after a long battle with a form of leukemia just after filming began for “TUF” Season 15.
Chiesa, 24, said the thought of giving up the opportunity to win the “TUF” title and the Ultimate Fighting Championship contract that goes with it never really crossed his mind.
“It was something my dad and I had talked about before I left,” the lightweight said. “It was easy for me to come back after I went home. It was tough to leave my family, but it was an easy choice to stay in the competition. Everybody understood, and everybody back home is very proud of me.”
The decision has paid off, as Chiesa has fought his way through the bracket and will fight Al Iaquinta for the season title on a UFC card tonight at the Palms.
While Chiesa was unable to see his mother, Teresa, or sisters, Meggie and Amy, the three women would gather on Friday nights and watch him on the show, which was airing in real time for the first time in the program’s history.
“When you lose somebody as close as a father, the scars don’t heal fast,” Chiesa said. “It’s going to take a lot of time for us to cope and get over it. We’re going to hurt for a very long time. Every week, whether I was fighting on the episode or not, for them to get the opportunity to tune in and see the show, at least for an hour, made them pretty happy. I know my family’s proud of me, and I’m proud of them, too.”
While Chiesa tried to keep his emotions to himself inside the house, his teammates became a de facto support system during his grieving process. Now, he must fight one of those teammates in Iaquinta, who was also a member of coach Urijah Faber’s team.
“My hat’s off to him,” Iaquinta said. “I couldn’t imagine myself in the same situation. It’s just business. That’s it. He’s a great person. I respect what he’s gone through and what he’s done to be here. But I’ve worked way too hard to let anyone stand in the way of my goal, and I’m going to win the show.”
The bout will serve as the co-main event on a card capped by a five-round welterweight contender bout between Jake Ellenberger and Las Vegan Martin Kampmann.
The winner will set himself up as a likely title challenger in an unsettled weight class that includes injured champion Georges St. Pierre and interim champion Carlos Condit, who is in a holding pattern.
The main card airs tape-delayed on FX (Cable 24) at 9 p.m. Four preliminary bouts will air live on Fuel TV (Cable 319) at 4. The first fight is scheduled for 3:25.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.
