Macy Chiasson (3-0) is a bantamweight combatant who is signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She will be looking to keep her unblemished professional record intact when she faces Gina Mazany at UFC 235, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 2.
As fight day looms, here are five things that you might not know about Chiasson.
She won “The Ultimate Fighter”
Chiasson only had two professional bouts when she entered “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 28 last year. However, it was soon apparent that despite her lack of experience, she would be a force to be reckoned with.The 27 year-old progressed to the final off the back of two first-round TKO finishes. Her victims were Larissa Pacheco in the quarterfinals and Leah Letson in the semifinals. In the final, her first official UFC appearance, Chiasson squared off against friend and fellow Team Kelvin Gastelum teammate Pannie Kianzad at “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 28 Finale in Las Vegas in November 2018. She claimed the title via a second-round rear-naked choke.
She started training while at college
Then college student Chiasson began combat sports training at the age of 19. The fledgling MMA athlete quickly fell in love with the sport, and was soon training every day, as she pursued her newfound dream of becoming a professional fighter. Her work ethic and ability caught the attention of her coaches, who were of the opinion that she was destined for success.She turned professional less than a year and half ago
It has been a rapid rise for the talented and hardworking Chiasson. She only made her professional bow back in October 2017 at In Yar Face “Caged Warrior Championship 16.” Chiasson won the contest by third-round armbar. In her sophomore outing with the Invicta Fighting Championships promotion, she claimed a decision win over Allison Schmidt at Invicta FC 29 in May 2018.She has just dropped down to bantamweight
To date, Chiasson has always fought as a featherweight. However, following her triumphant bow with the UFC at the TUF 28 finale, Chiasson announced that she would drop down a division and compete at bantamweight. The 5-foot-9-inch combatant will make her debut in a new division in her next appearance at UFC 235. She came to the conclusion that this was the opportune moment to make the move after discussions with her coaches and her training at the UFC Performance Institute.Some have expressed concern that the 27-year-old might struggle to make weight. It was well-documented that Chiasson had a gruelling weight cut for her semi-final TUF 28 clash, and that was contested at 145 pounds.
Chiasson attempted to dampen any concerns, when in one recent interview, she said, “There is no worry there, I am going to make bantamweight no matter what … I don’t care what anybody says. When I sign something I always do what I am told and what is expected of me.”
She is a native of New Orleans
Chiasson hails from “The Big Easy.” She spent her childhood there, and later attended the University of New Orleans, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biological studies and civil engineering, while training with the Triumph Krav Maga team.These days, the dedicated pugilist spends much of her time with Fortis MMA in Dallas. It was not easy leaving her beloved home city but as Chiasson stated in one interview, “I made a lot of sacrifices financially to move to a better camp to become a better fighter and a better athlete.”