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Damien Riccio speaks out!

French bare-knuckle fighter Damien Riccio will issue a monumental challenge at Ultimate Combat 8: Retribution on November 30th 2003. Riccio intends to challenge UFC and Pride legend Royce Gracie to meet him at Ultimate Combat and settle their differences once and for all in a battle of honour.

Damien Riccio is also due to fight Team Ultimate Combat member Ruben Vazquez in the Semi final heats to find the first challenger for Pierre Guillets Ultimate Combat World Light-Heavyweight Title.

The full interview is published on the Ultimate Combat 8 page of the ML Sports web-site right now www.mlsports.co.uk



Read all about Riccios Challenge Match with Royce Gracies brother Robin which took place in Perpignan, France.

The Challenge Match

The idea comes in to my head to challenge Robin. But everyone is taken with the fact that the Gracies are strongest and that nobody can beat them in free fight. So in spite of the wound to my leg I decide to go to challenge Robin in closed door

I say to him (The organiser) that I want to make a match of Vale Tudo against him. He bursts out laughing and says "against me, you ask me?" I say to him yes, and he asks me "Now?" I told him no - after your training course and with door closed
without spectators. He answers me while laughing without problem He (the organiser of the seminar)told me already to watch out because (Robin) Gracie is extremely good and that he will put to me on the ground and to beat me easily. I tell them not to worry, and we will see if Gracie will beat me so easily.

I say to Robin YOU choose the rules which you want. Robin accepts while saying to my face its best (my way) the French way Robin accepts but decides to make it with spectators with video and Robin wanted a copy of the fight. He does not want the limit of time or gloves, and be Vale Tudo rules.

He came in my city while protesting that Gracie Ju Jitsu was the best art in the world and that the Gracie's are said to accept all challenges. I came to challenge, to test myself against a Gracie.

I say to him that I did nothing but note the famous GRACIE CHALLENGE I came to take up the challenge. He says to me that it is not him which did that but Rickson and Royce and which if I had a problem with them I was to go to see them has them and not him.

Robin lost and is a liar.




Find out Damien Riccios version of the alleged reprisal attack from the Gracie family.

The Revenge!

In fact they were two scouts who came to see whether I was alone or not.
If I had been with friends or my brothers they would never have come there I saw a guy with a camera and I think has tourists have come to film the place. They advance and are stopped in front of me, and Robin and Royce appear from behind the guys and put themselves in front of me.

I find myself surrounded by eight guys and Robin. During this time Royce was left with my little brother and kicks him twice.

I put a left hook to him and Robin collapses knocked out.

There were a lot of people who chased them during that night and things in my city were very, very hot-tempered that evening!



Find out what could happen next...

The Aftermath!

I think it is best to settle this matter as gentlemen, with honour.

Why would I not have the right of the challenge? They launched the famous GRACIE CHALLENGE to the whole world and so to me also, and everyone. Why would I not have the right to take up the challenge?


I already fought once at Ultimate Combat and the show was very, very well
organised and very professional. Dale Adams [the promoter] seems somebody
correct and trustworthy, which is not the case of many promoters. I have
received many other offers to organise this fight, but I decide to give
it to Ultimate Combat.

it must be done in a neutral country.


Frankly if I wanted to make publicity. It would not be by choosing Royce
or Robin. I would have chosen somebody more extreme. And there are many.


I think that to stop all this history that it would be better to face me and face the truth and finish this.

You are a coward and you cannot defeat me. I destroyed your brother twice and I will do the same for you.

everyone will realise you are scared so fight me now for honour and pride.



To read the full interview or to find out more about Ultimate Combat 8: Retribution go to www.mlsports.co.uk and click on the Ultimate Combat 8 banner.