By the Numbers: Michael Chiesa vs. Diego Sanchez

The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 239 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Michael Chiesa versus Diego Sanchez is one of many reasons to tune in for UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas. Both are exciting fighters looking to add another win to their resumes and further improve their rankings. As fans await this thrilling encounter, here are some career-defining numbers for both competitors.

Overall experience

With 40 professional fights, Sanchez has a lot more experience than Chiesa who’s only had 19. Sanchez currently sports a record of 29-11, with notable victories over Nick Diaz, Joe Stevenson, Karo Parisyan, Jim Miller and Takanori Gomi. He’s also fought in four different weight divisions, namely middleweight, welterweight, lightweight and featherweight. His major achievements include winning the King of the Cage welterweight championship and The Ultimate Fighter season one middleweight tournament. In addition, he also challenged for the UFC lightweight title once.

Chiesa, meanwhile, started his career with nine straight victories before losing to Jorge Masvidal in his third UFC fight. His record now stands at 15-4, with impressive conquests of Carlos Condit, Miller and Al Iaquinta. Like Sanchez, Chiesa is also a TUF winner, choking out Iaquinta in the contest’s 15th edition.

First-round finishes

Sanchez holds 11 wins in the first round while “Maverick” has five fights that have ended via first-round stoppage to his favor. His casualties include Darcy James, Evia Rodriguez, Matt Coble, Darrell Fenner and the aforementioned Iaquinta.

Wins by knockout

It’s always a treat when Sanchez is fighting in the Octagon. With his gung ho style, you get the feeling someone is about to drop at any point during the fight. Ten out of 40 times, it’s Sanchez’s opponent. “The Nightmare” owns 10 wins by KO or TKO, victimizing Jesus Sanchez, Jake Short, Travis Beachler, Ray Elbe, Kenny Florian, Brian Gassaway, Joe Riggs, David Bielkheden, Luigi Fioravanti and Mickey Gall.

While Chiesa has some decent standup, he has yet to throw a strike that would result in a stoppage. He, however, knocked out highly favored TUF contestants Justin Lawrence and James Vick on his way to winning the tournament.

Wins by submission

Whatever holes he has in his striking, Chiesa more than makes up for with his slick submissions. His technique combined with his lanky frame has allowed for 11 submission victories. The jiu-jitsu purple belt has tapped out Charon Spain, James, Rodriguez, Coble, Fenner, Iaquinta, Anton Kuivanen, Colton Smith, Miller, Beneil Dariush and Condit.

Stoppage losses

Chiesa has lost only four times in his professional career. He was knocked out by Joe Lauzon and was submitted by Masvidal, Kevin Lee and Anthony Pettis. Sanchez has also been stopped four times, having been finished by the likes of BJ Penn, Lauzon, Iaquinta and Matt Brown. Up to this day, nobody has ever notably submitted Sanchez, who is a black belt in jiu-jitsu.