Spokane fighter Micahel Chiesa submits Niko Price in first round of retirement bout at UFC Seattle

SEATTLE – Michael Chiesa couldn’t have asked for a better end to his career.

In just over a minute, with not a scratch on him, Chiesa cemented his legacy in the UFC with a submission win over Niko Price at a sold out Climate Pledge Arena.

The beginning started dicey when Chiesa (20-7) opened up himself with an overhand cross for Price (16-11) to duck under and take the back. Chiesa was quick to reverse the position, trying to judo throw Price to the ground. Price countered, and the two stood back up in a tight clinch.

Chiesa took Price to the ground with a single leg where the “Maverick” quickly found Price’s back and locked in a rear naked choke. In a Hail Mary defense, Price tried to front flip his way out of the choke. Though Chiesa lost the choke, he maintained the back control which ultimately led him to securing – and finishing – the final rear naked choke of his UFC career.

“This is the end, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Chiesa said.

The “Maverick,” who treated this fight like any other fight, was content with his performance, saying it cemented his career.

“He’s had a great career,” UFC president Dana White said. “He’s accomplished a lot and in the toughest fight organization in the world and stayed here his entire career. Pretty impressive.”

The win is Chiesa’s ninth submission, ranked fourth in UFC history.

After the win, he leapt over the cage and embraced his wife, before sharing an emotional post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier.

“It’s hard to encapsulate my feelings into any type of words,” Chiesa said. “To be retiring … in my home state of Washington, I love you guys so much you have no idea. I’m a kid that came from nothing. All I did was work hard, dream big and never give up on myself.”

After the interview, Chiesa dropped his gloves in the ring as a final farewell. He will turn to his career as a UFC broadcaster and finishes on a four-fight win streak.

In a bout earlier on Saturday, Spokane native Terrance McKinney (18-8) knocked out Kyle Nelson (17-7-1) in just 24 seconds. McKinney, whose high school wrestling coach was Chiesa, was “honored” to share the card with the “Maverick.”

“There’s nothing that could be more incredible than this,” McKinney said.

McKinney (18-8-0) backed down Nelson (17-7-1) and dropped him to the mat with a high left kick. He then pounced to the ground and finished his 15-strike flurry with overhand fists.

McKinney has won five of his last seven bouts and recovered from a loss to Chris Duncan on Dec. 6. He holds the record for fastest knockout in UFC lightweight history at seven seconds.

“It feel amazing, I almost cried right now,” McKinney said in his post-fight interview with Cormier. “It’s the ability God gave me, but I also have that ninja strength.”

Continuing the impact he’s had on the next generation, Chiesa is looking forward to raising the next generation of Spokane MMA athletes.

“We have a great crop of young kids that are hungry, that have a wealth of potential,” Chiesa said. “I’m excited.