Heading into WSOF 31, Mike Ricci Feels His Experience is Finally Catching Up to His Ability

Over the course of his first six years in MMA, lightweight Mike Ricci had been able to maintain a good amount of consistency. In the following two years, however, Ricci has been plagued by injuries which has limited his fight output.

Ricci told MMAWeekly.com that his recent troubles have been both bad luck and self-inflicted.

“I spend most of my career injury-free, but I’ve just had a bad run,” said Ricci. “The injury for the (Pat) Healy fight wasn’t my fault, it just happened and it was a bad injury.

HOT VIDEO > Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold Confrontation After UFC 199 Press Conference

“What happened with the Caros (Fodor) fight was totally my fault because I knew my hip was all messed up from the fight before and just jumped into another training camp. Sure enough I injured it to the point of almost needing surgery.”

While he’s had trouble maintaining a steady output, Ricci has been able to pick up three straight wins over more experienced opposition. It’s a streak he believes has come as a result of his own experience catching up to his natural ability.

“Throughout my career, I was always pushed so quickly because I was talented and came from a good team and was performing in the gym to do things that I wasn’t necessarily ready for,” he said. “I really feel like TUF and the UFC and that whole whirlwind finally made my fight IQ and experience catch up to my fighting ability and athleticism.

“Once that all kind of calmed down, I was ready to take those next steps and it’s made me that much better, and I’ve been executing more and more.”

Ricci (11-4) will be seeking his fourth straight win when he faces a likewise hot-streaking Jason High (19-5) in a main card lightweight bout at World Series of Fighting 31 at Foxwoods Casino and Resort in Connecticut on Friday, June 17.

“I think I have to impose myself super-early,” said Ricci. “I’m looking to just pressure (High) and force him into some exchanges. Get a guy off his rhythm and force him to do things he doesn’t want to do and capitalize on his mistakes.

“He’s a super-tough guy, so I’ve got to be 100% on-point that night to be a guy of his caliber.”

For Ricci, a win over high could put him into title contention against multiple WSOF belt holders.

“There’s talk about a title fight after this fight, but I’d like to sit down and renegotiate my contract for what I feel would be a huge lightweight contest against (Justin) Gaethje,” Ricci said. “I’m also interested in fighting (Jon) Fitch at 170 pounds as well.

“I think that after this fight, we’ll sit down and talk, and see whichever fight is bigger, but I’m willing to fight either Fitch or Gaethje, to be honest.”

Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram