Ricco Rodriguez – “I would like to face Tim Sylvia again”
June 14, 2009
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez recently spoke regrading his training and preparation for a future bout. After losing the belt to Tim Sylvia (24 – 5) Ricco has not lived up to his potential – but he feels things are about to change with a new training regime in place as well as a new found motivation for the sport.
“I’ve been to the top of the mountain and I can’t wait to get back,” says former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez. “I’m focused and working hard on stand-up and conditioning.” One could argue Ricco has always had the skills with submissions and grappling but personal demons and a weak stand up game have been his weak links.
After an appearance on VH 1’s Celebrity Rehab, Ricco seems to be ready to move forward. Recently he has been training with former kick-boxing champion and UFC announcer, Don “The Dragon” Wilson. “People can say what they want about me training with Don. The bottom line is that he knows striking and my skills are improving every day,” said Ricco. As a former champion Ricco lets it be known that he has an eye for what works, and what doesn’t. “Don has completely changed my approach to striking in MMA. Now I know how to work with angles and crate openings. With Don’s knowledge I feel like instead of fighting, I’m actually a lion hunting his prey, you know I’m the guy who’s doing the stalking” said Ricco. “I’ll fight anybody put in front of me but I wouldn’t mind taking on (Tim) Sylvia again, that fight still bothers me to this day, I know I am better than what I showed – this time I’ll be the one who delivering the KO.”
Ricco believes that his professional trials have made him mature as a fighter and even more determined to reclaim his throne at the top of the MMA world.
