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French star recovers after stabbing
By Mark Pickering | January 19, 2007
Cage Rage and Shooto veteran Matthias ‘The Fire’ Riccio, one of Europe’s most coveted light-heavyweights, who was stabbed a week ago in his native Perpignan, France, is making a steady recovery in hospital.
According to reports, Riccio was pursued by a fellow motorist after an exchange of words, and then attacked. After being floored by a right hand from the Team Riccio founder the attacker retrieved a kitchen knife from his car and stabbed him four times.
The 205-pounder, who was stabbed multiple times in the arm, cutting muscle and tendons as well as damaging an artery, lost over two litres of blood and was fighting for his life.
Following life-saving surgery, the popular Frenchman, who required one hundred and ten stitches in his wounded arm, is said to be making good progress and will be out of hospital soon.
After an intense two-month recovery period, Riccio will return to training and expects to compete again before the summer.
Topics: All Topics, MMA, Mark Pickering, Media | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback | Share This
Well the Euro’s don’t seem to care if you’re an MMA fighter or not, eh…they’ll stab anyone! Just ask Lee Murray – wtf is someone doing with a kitchen knife in their car?
The French are very serious about MMA.
Deadly serious.
Wasnt this guy the one that started the whole beef with the Gracie that made Royce and his crew travel to France to kick their ass?
Or the guy that got ko’d by Manhoef?
European weapon laws (note the word “weapon”, not “gun”) are a bit different than those in the US. It’s not very easy to obtain a gun legally, and you have to pass various tests (varying by country), and even if you get a permit you’re not allowed to actually carry it. And also “static” weapons are heavily regulated, such as stilettos, butterfly knives or brass knuckles, which are outlawed in many countries. That’s why many people carry kitchen knives or pocket knives with them. What Riccio had to experience isn’t that unusual, especially in some areas of france, belgium and germany where stuff like that happens very often. Let’s just say that a certain group of people has a rather short fuse…
Gus: It’s the guy that got ko’d by Manhoef. Damien Riccio was the one who had beef with the Gracies (challenging them after he beat Robin Gracie at Ultimate Combat 8), and he’s Matthias cousin i think.