OTHER NEWS: Pedro Rizzo says he wants to end his career in the UFC

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former three-time UFC Heavyweight Title challenger Pedro Rizzo looked like he might be at the end of his career in 2009 after consecutive knockout losses, but after a three fight win streak, the 36-year-old is hoping to work his way to a UFC return.

Speaking with MMAJunkie.com, Rizzo said he believes he can still compete with the top guys in the division.

"I really want to finish my career in the UFC," Rizzo said. "It is kind of a dream for me. I think I am still able to fight with the top guys.

"It would be a dream to finish my career in the UFC. I don't know if it will be possible, but I'm doing my part. I'm training every day. I am keeping in shape and training hard. That is what I have to do."

Rizzo's career was looking near its end following a loss to Gilbert Yvel in June of 2009. The vicious knockout blow followed his knockout loss to Josh Barnett at the first Affliction show the year before. But he's since picked up wins over Jeff Monson, Gary Goodridge and Ken Shamrock.

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Penick's Analysis: Rizzo would need to pick up a number of consecutive wins over better competition than he's been facing to get a call back from the UFC, as right now those wins over Monson, Goodridge and Shamrock are not going to bring him back into the organization. Even though he's only 36 right now, he's taken a ton of punishment throughout his career, and despite his belief that he can contend right now there are a lot of guys in the UFC and even in Strikeforce that would give him a lot of trouble at this point.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_8410.shtml

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