[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] has been around the UFC block a time or two.
Officially one of the more senior welterweights on the promotion’s roster, Griffin (20-10 MMA, 8-8 UFC) returns Dec. 7 vs. [autotag]Michael Cheisa[/autotag] (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) at UFC 310. He admits this fight could be the biggest of his career – and could even lead to a title run.
“I would say the next fight is the best fight,” Griffin recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “To beat him in tremendous fashion as what’s written, someone ranked. He’s been ranked for my whole life. He’s a ranked guy to me. Just his name and he won ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and just with who he’s beat, he’s had a rough patch, but I don’t care about that. He’s still Michael Chiesa. He still just subbed Tony Ferguson. He was on a losing streak. That doesn’t matter. We’re all dangerous. But he is that ranked fighter to me.
“After this fight, they’re going to want to see me against somebody really good. This is going to be the best I’ve ever looked, ever moved, everything. Everything. Now is my time. I’ve got this new deal, and I’m ready for the title run. I’ve fought everyone, all the styles. I’m healthy, happy, and I’m ready to deliver.”
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Griffin, 38, revealed he was offered Chiesa for Miami at UFC 299 in March. However, the fight was on a few days notice and Griffin declined as he could not make weight. He was disappointed during that saga, but elated when matchmaker Sean Shelby circled back for an end-of-year showdown.
“Ecstatic,” Griffin said. “We’ve been talking to Sean for months. … Chiesa wasn’t my target, per se. … For them to give me this fight, Sean was happy about it. We told Sean how excited I am. He was like, ‘I wish all fighters were excited.’ Dave Hirschbein shared with Sean how excited I was. Sean was like, ‘I wish all the fighters were excited when I put these fights together.'”
Not only is Griffin familiar with Chiesa from a long-distance observer’s perspective, he got his hands on his upcoming foe many years ago in the training room. There’s lots of mutual respect.
“Michael Chiesa, I’ve known him for so long,” Griffin said. “I’m a big fan of him. We even trained back in the day a little bit. We rolled over at 10th Planet. This was like six years ago. But he’s good people. He’s good people. It’s funny. He told one of my coaches, coach Joey (Rodriguez) was over there with him… Anthony (Hernandez), all them were over there. He was at the desk and he said, ‘Loser rolls up.’ So he better get f*cking ready to roll. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.