Niko Price retired at UFC Seattle on Saturday, though you’d be forgiven if you didn’t realize it.
While the UFC’s broadcast team did mention the fact ahead of the fight, the night belonged to Michael Chieasa, who also retired at the event. Fighting at home, he was the local hero, and he was able to submit Price, a short-notice replacement, early in the bout.
Hat’s off to Chiesa, who has had a heck of a career. The curiosity came when the UFC declined to have UFC analyst Daniel Cormier interview Price after he hung up the gloves. A ten-year veteran of the company, Price was given the cold shoulder after Chiesa’s own interview wrapped.
“DC” has now addressed the decision not to interview Price on air.
“Even a movie script could not be written any better if you’re Michael Chiesa,” stated Cormier in his Instant Reaction video for UFC Seattle on Youtube. The former double-champ urged Chiesa not to return to fighting, even if he might be tempted by the fact that he’s retiring off a four-fight win streak.
As for Price, “It was kind of weird, man. I didn’t know what I was going to do about Niko Price,” Cormier said. “He was retiring, too, but I just didn’t feel like you could interview him after you interview Michael in this situation.”
In other words it was Chiesa’s night, at home. Still, it’s an unfortunate snub for Price, who coincidentally was Robbie Lawler’s final opponent in MMA. Price finishes his career with a 16-11, 2NC record overall. He had 21 contests under the UFC banner, joining the company in 2016 with an 8-0 record and winning his debut against Brandon Thatch at UFC 207.
