Michael Chiesa is ending his UFC career in his home city – but who against?
The “TUF 15” winner, Chiesa (19-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC), has declared UFC Fight Night 271 a farewell. But now opponent Carlston Harris (19-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is out due to visa issues, leaving Chiesa without a dance partner for the March 28 event at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
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Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the change Friday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Chiesa, 38, will hang up the gloves after a 16-year professional career as a competitive mixed martial artist – and do so in his home city. The UFC is actively seeking a replacement to give him the chance to go out the way he intended. Despite only having one more bout left in the tank, Chiesa rides a three-fight winning streak into the matchup. Regardless of outcome, his newer gig as a UFC analyst will continue on.
The updated UFC Fight Night 271 lineup includes:
Maycee Barber vs. Alexa Grasso
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui
Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa
Terrance McKinney vs. Kyle Nelson
Gabriella Fernandes vs. Casey O’Neill
Marcio Barbosa vs. Kangjie Zhu
Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Chase Hooper
Bruno Lopes vs. Navajo Stirling
Bruna Brasil vs. Alexia Thainara
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Tofiq Musayev
Tyrell Fortune vs. Marcin Tybura
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Chiesa needs new UFC Seattle retirement fight opponent