Mike Ricci
 |
Name | Mike Ricci |
| Nickname | N/A | |
| Association | TriStar Gym / Zahabi MMA | |
| Weight Class | Lightweight (155 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 0" | |
| Style | Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling | |
| Birth Date | March 18, 1986 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Country | Canada | |
| Mike Ricci Pictures | Official Website |
Mike Ricci is a Canadian mixed martial artist who has competed at Lightweight, but is a finalist in The Ultimate Fighter 16: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Welterweight Tournament. Ricci was also a participant in the Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 8 - 3 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 4 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Losses | 1 (T)KOs 0 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Colin Fletcher | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 158: St. Pierre vs. Diaz | 3/16/2013 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Colton Smith | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale | 12/15/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | TUF 16 Welterweight Tournament Final |
| Win | Tony Hervey | Decision (Unanimous) | Ringside MMA 13: The Saint Patrick's Day Beatdown | 3/17/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Daron Cruickshank | Decision (Unanimous) | Ringside MMA 12: Daley vs. Fioravanti | 10/21/2011 | 5 | 5:00 | For Ringside MMA Lightweight Championship (Vacant) |
| Win | Jesse Ronson | TKO (Punches) | Ringside MMA 10: Cote vs. Starnes | 4/09/2011 | 1 | 3:12 | |
| Loss | Pat Curran | KO (Punch) | BFC: Bellator Fighting Championships 14 | 4/15/2010 | 1 | 3:01 | Season Two Lightweight Tournament Opening Round |
| Win | Jordan Mein | Decision (Unanimous) | Ringside MMA: Rivalry | 11/14/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Jean-Marc Lalonde | TKO (Punches) | Ringside MMA: The Comeback | 5/30/2009 | 1 | 2:35 | |
| Win | Rory McDonell | TKO (Kick to the Body) | XMMA 6: House of Pain | 11/08/2008 | 2 | 2:15 | |
| Win | Reza Kamali | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | TKO 35: Quenneville vs. Hioki | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 3:41 | |
| Win | Stephane Chretien | TKO (Punches) | TKO 34: Sims vs. Bosse | 6/07/2008 | 3 | 4:58 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Ricci began competing professionally in mixed martial arts in 2008 in a TKO Major League MMA fight with Stephane Chretien who was also making his debut. With only two seconds left in the last and final round, Ricci ended the fight by TKO (Punches). Returning to TKO, in his next fight he faced debuting Reza Kamali, who he submitted with a Rear Naked Choke in the first round.
He rounded out 2008 with his third straight win, this time over six-fight veteran Rory McDonell with a kick to the body mid-way through the second round.
Ricci returned to action in 2009 at a Ringside MMA event against Jean-Marc Lalonde. None of Lalonde's fights had made it out of the first round, and this one was no different, as Ricci ended the fight by TKO (Punches) at 2:35 of the first round. He returned to Ringside MMA in his next fight, where he faced Jordan Mein, who at the time was on a five fight win streak. The fight went the distance, the first of Ricci's fights to do so, but Ricci walked away the winner due to Decision (Unanimous).
Bellator Fighting Championship
It was announced mid-Januaary 2010 that Ricci would be a participant in the second season of Bellator Fighting Championship's Lightweight tournament.
- "I feel like I'm ready for the competition at Bellator. That's why I took this opportunity," Ricci said. "When you are with Firas (Zahabi), you don't get involved in things to do them halfway. It's not to get exposure or get my face out there. We know we have a chance of winning this tournament. If I win this tournament and Eddie Alvarez (Bellator's then-current lightweight champion) is the guy I have to fight, I think I'm prepared to fight him."
His first round match-up was announced to be Chicago-native Pat Curran and the fight took place at Bellator 14. Curran was an obvious crowd favorite, as the fight took place in Chicago, and he remained patient through a few strategic minutes in which the fighters traded low kicks and jabs while finding their range. However, a little more than midway through the round, Curran connected on a powerful right hook that sent opponent Ricci crashing to the mat where he stayed unconscious for a few uncomfortable minutes after a few follow up punches. The bout was called, and Ricci lost by KO (Punch) by 3:01 in the first.
Comparison to GSP
Training alongside Georges St. Pierre, Ricci, as a prospect, has been said to be the next GSP, including both St. Pierre and Ricci's trainer at TriStar Gym, Firas Zahabi.
- "Those are some big shoes to fill," Ricci told Heavy.com in an exclusive interview. "Training at all the gyms (St. Pierre) trains at and training alongside him, it's really helped me evolve in my own weight class. I truly believe, along with my team, that I can accomplish everything he's accomplished at welterweight in my own weight class. I believe I can accomplish that goal."
