'Ruthless' Robert Varricchio wants busy schedule to earn UFC call: 'I need the fights'
The heavy-handed striker returns at CFFC 128 and is looking to deliver another statement win on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Robert Varricchio has been absolutely flawless thus far in his professional run, and the undefeated lightweight prospect isn't planning on slowing down anytime soon.
"I want more turnarounds like this," Varricchio said. "I want to fight, rest for like a week or two, and get back into it. It was just after my fight in October from last year, I was injured for a little bit. I got back, my opponent missed weight, and then someone dropped out. I couldn't catch a break. I got sick again. I couldn't catch a f-cking break.
"But I want to make it to the big show as fast as possible. I want to keep it going, keep that momentum, which is definitely something I want."
Despite the challenges, Varricchio has been able to amass an impressive track record early in his professional run. In September, he delivered his fourth straight knockout, and the third of which came in the opening frame.
Varricchio credits his preparation with Team Tiger Schulmann for having him ready to make an immediate impact in the pro ranks, following an undefeated amateur career, as well.
"I mean, I train with some of the best fighters in the world, so there's not many people that I'm going to fight that are going to be better than what I see in the gym every day, like Lyman Good, Shane Burgos, Julio Arce," Varricchio said. "I train with these guys on a daily basis, man. There's no one better than these guys, and we recently added this guy Bobby Casale to the gym, and he's really leveled up our wrestling, so we're just so much more deadly than we've already been, you know? I can't wait to showcase what we've been working on."
Varricchio (4-0) gets that opportunity at Friday's CFFC 128, where he takes on the more experienced Sean Felton (5-4-1) in a bout that streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from New Jersey's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Varricchio thinks his opponent's record isn't really indicative of the skills he brings to the table and insists he's not looking past him in the least.
"He's really good, man," Varricchio said. "Very well-rounded, good striker, good grappler, good wrestler. You know, I never look past anybody, regardless of the record.
"He could be 0-5. He could be 5-0, 10-0. He could be 1-7. It doesn't matter. I look at every little thing, and I watch tape on a daily basis."
Varricchio is also looking forward to fighting a little closer to his New York home, after traveling to Pennsylvania for his previous two CFFC appearances. What already promises to be a rowdy crowd should certainly feature a significant pop when "Ruthless" makes his way to the cage.
"I fought in the Tropicana for another organization, but it's in the Hard Rock now," Varricchio said. "I was in the Hard Rock one time, when one of my friends was fighting – it was Christian McAuley who fought there – and it was electric. It was amazing, so I can't wait to go out there and showcase.
"You know how Staten Island is. Staten Island people, they show out. You know Santo Curatolo, and of course we show out every time we fight in Atlantic City because we need a reason to go out, you know? Walking out, I feel it. It motivates the sh-t out of you. There is nothing like it."
Varricchio believes he's destined to fight at the sport's highest level, but he's not looking past Friday night for the time being. The 28-year-old understands the focus that's required to succeed, and that means he has to give proper respect to anyone on the other side of the cage.
"I'm not looking past Sean," Varricchio said. "When I win, when the fight is over, then I've got a lot of things on my mind, but I'm not looking past him."
Still, Varricchio has developed quite the impressive reputation in the CFFC cage in short order, and if he can deliver again in spectacular fashion, the phone might start ringing sooner rather than later.
"I train every fight like I'm going three rounds regardless, Varricchio said. "That's probably why I have the confidence to go in there guns blazing every single round, you know?
"Am I predicting a finish? Yes. Am I looking for it? No, but if it's there, you know I'm going to get it."
