Today we’d like to introduce you to Macy Chiasson.
Macy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before I started actively competing in MMA, my journey in martial arts started at a self-defense gym where I instantly fell in love with the concept of fighting. As a 19 years old college student, training was just a hobby until my athletic instincts took over.
After just a year of training and without the slightest idea of what I was doing, I decided to take an amateur fight by the age of 20 and won first-round via TKO (technical knockout). I fought as an amateur all through my college career and decided to go pro my senior year in college. I never had the slightest thought of going pro in MMA until my senior year of college. I indeed graduated with a degree in Biology and studies in civil engineering, but I didn’t want to regret not pursuing something I was pretty good at. So, I ran with it. Just after winning 2 pro fights, I was invited to try out for The Ultimate Fighter season 28. TUF 28 is a reality tv show in which men and women compete against other men and women for a UFC contract. I was the least experienced professional fighter with a 2-0 record.
To be honest, I was almost cut from tryouts, but in some crazy way I was actually picked. There were girls that had records of 11-2, 11-3 and that were in the UFC or were once in the UFC. So from the start, I was very intimidated and honestly felt outmatched. But with self-assurance and some guardian angel who was watching me along the way, I ended up winning both of my in-house fights via TKO and then won the Finale via second-round rear naked choke. To go from 2-0 professional and an extreme underdog to winning a UFC contract against some of the toughest women I have ever seen was definitely won for the books. After winning the contract and a native to New Orleans, I moved to Dallas, Texas in September of 2018 to pursue my career as a UFC fighter under the guidance of Sayif Saud, Fortis MMA owner and head coach.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been a long, hard road.
As a teenager, I always found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the age of 17, I found myself a victim and innocent bystander in an open fire shoot out leaving me bedridden from a gunshot to the stomach. I think thats why I found a self-defense gym. I was in desperate need of some sort of self-assurance that I didn’t need to live my teenage life in fear. Which unknowingly led me to where I am today, an elite athlete in the UFC. Living my dreams, fighting in the UFC and living in one of the greatest cities you’d think to yourself wow what a life. Thats exactly how I felt up until June 9th of 2019 when a crane fell onto my apartment. The experience, the innocent people that needed help, the one who died and everything I worked so hard for, gone. I had to leave Dallas for two months and go back to New Orleans until I could figure out what to do next. Since then, there’s been a lot of highs and a lot of lows, but thats something I try to not to let interfere with my training and with my life.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As a UFC fighter, I’m known for having a 100% finishing rate in the 135 lbs female division. I’m most proud of all I have accomplished in just a short amount of time. I went pro in October 2017 and then won the ultimate fighter by august of 2017 with only a 2-0 pro record. Defying odds and overcoming some insane life events, I’m now 6-1 in the UFC. I’m fighting on the biggest stage in the world. Who knew. Definitely not me. Even when life tried and continues to try and slow me down, I just keep my head down and continue to walk forward. Its what has gotten me thus far.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Dallas has opened so many doors for me. I have my home gym here in Dallas now at Fortis MMA that continues to produce some of the highest level UFC fighters that spectators have ever seen. Fortis MMA, as of 2019, was named number one gym in the world. If someone is just starting out in MMA, I think that Dallas has some amazing gyms and networking. It would be amazing if more large business’ could sponsor UFC fighters in the DFW area. The stage and platform for UFC and MMA is huge! We just had Donald Trump, our president, attend UFC244. History!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: macychiasson.com
- Email: mmchiass91@gmail.com
- Instagram: @macychiasson
- Twitter: @macy_chiasson
Image Credit:
Sarah Smith, UFC
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