Prediction: Michael Chiesa via Decision
McGee brings that old-man strength, no question. His offensive grappling surprises people because it doesn’t look fast—it just sticks. He latches on and makes you work for every inch. In round one, that could cause some real problems for Chiesa if he’s not sharp from the jump.
But here’s the thing: Chiesa is used to chaos. He’s awkward, rangy, and his jiu-jitsu is slick. He scrambles like a madman, and even when he’s in bad spots, he’s constantly working, flowing, and threatening. He’s also got size on McGee—taller, longer, and just enough awkward to make things uncomfortable in clinch and scramble situations.
Neither guy’s winning a kickboxing match anytime soon, let’s be honest. The striking is kind of a wash—both are serviceable at best. It’s enough to close distance, enough to draw reactions, and that’s all they need when the real plan is to drag this to the mat and make it ugly.
What seals it for Chiesa is the gas tank and the technique. McGee might come out strong early, but he tends to fade, especially when his takedowns stop working. Chiesa, on the other hand, builds. The longer the fight goes, the more he flows. His cardio doesn’t just hold up—it becomes a weapon. If he doesn’t get caught in something early or overwhelmed by that early pressure, he should take over by round two and never give the momentum back.
So yeah, not a flashy fight, but a fight that Chiesa wins with composure, cardio, and high-level grappling IQ. It might be a slow burn, but by the end, the edge should be all his.