With his shades and icy cool demeanour, Montreals Mike Ricci has looked more like hes chilling on a cruise than battling for his MMA future on recent episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter." But the 26-year-old, who is slated to fight in the episode of the reality TV show that airs Friday, confesses to bubbling emotions below the surface. "I was the guy that had the least going on -- on the surface," Ricci said in an interview Thursday. "But inside I think I might have had more going on than anybody." The format of the show has 16 fighters locked up in a Las Vegas mansion, with no contact with the outside world other than to train and fight. The prize is a contract to compete in the UFC. There are no phones, TV, computers or any other distractions. Just the stress of knowing you might have to fight any time. "That house was something new to me that I had never experienced and it was pure torment," said Ricci. "Inside, internally I was always struggling with something. I spent a lot of nights where I didnt sleep, not even a wink. "The thing is when youre there, thoughts enter your mind. If theyre good, thats cool. But if theyre bad then they can eat you up." But he didnt let it show and today thinks he concealed his discomfort more than the others. "I think everybody was troubled in some way while they were there. But a lot of guys, it broke them down. For me, it just angered me." The very nature of the house is hostile, with fighters constantly sizing up rivals and trying to search out weaknesses. "You dont know who youre fighting or when youre fighting them and everybodys going insane," Ricci explained. "Youre missing home, youre missing your people, you dont know whats going on with them. You cant contact them. "Your mind wanders. You think bad things about your parents, your friend, your girlfriend. There are so many things that are going on in your mind. Its a heavy load to deal with." Ricci said it even took a while to get back to normal after leaving the show. "Definitely. The house can break people down. Ive seen guys come into that house and be absolute monsters and within a couple of weeks (become) just pathetic nothings." "Guys break down, guys quit, guys cry ... so many things play with your head," he added. Ricci said he just found a way to adapt. "With my situation I just forced myself to become OK with what was going on." Riccis bout against Dom (Shonuff) Waters was the last of the initial round of fights, meaning the two had to wait several weeks before stepping into the cage after registering the necessary victories to make the final cast. At least Ricci did not have the worry of having to make weight on short notice. He normally fights at lightweight (155) pounds and was walking around at 174 pounds during the six weeks of taping. So making welterweight (170) was not an issue. "Id wake up in the morning, skip breakfast and make weight," he said. Waters, the first pick of coach Roy Nelson, is a different story. Ricci, the third pick of coach Shane Carwin, estimates his opponent comes into the cage at about 190, 195 pounds. Michael Hill of Kelowna, B.C, the other Canadian in the cast, won a split decision over Matt Secor in an earlier episode. cheap jerseys .25 million, one-year contract. The deal with the 34-year-old left-hander, which had been agreed to on Dec. nfl holdjersey . And then it was the Canadian mens turn. And while they took their time to pull ahead, the men ended up savouring their own curtain call after a key 1-0 win over Panama moved them atop their World Cup qualifying group. http://www.holdjersey.com/ . They sure look like one of the top teams out West. David Lee had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Warriors beat the listless Atlanta Hawks 115-93 on Saturday night. holdjersey . The Thursday filing is in response to the home run record-holders attempt to overturn a felony conviction for misleading a grand jury. The filing with the 9th U. wholesale jerseys . 4 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland swept past former champion Greta Arn 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the second round of the ASB Classic.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week, they discuss Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz, a tribute to the late Emanuel Steward, the New York Islanders decision to move to Brooklyn and the lack of effort by the B.C. Lions. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is down to Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz. But before you say what else is new, hear me out. We all know Katz tried to blackmail Edmonton for more and more public money for a new arena, and we all know he clumsily attempted to threaten relocation, and we all know he refused to meet with city council after the arena deal collapsed. But this week we found out that Katz funneled a reported $430,000 to the provincial Conservatives during the last election, which was not only 28 per cent of their total fundraising, but may be illegal. The arena deal, coincidentally, required $100 million in provincial money. On the plus side, I finally have an idea about where the NHL is getting its advice on public relations. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to a time gone by, when the names Hearns, Hagler, Leonard and Duran werent just the biggest names in boxing, but the largest in all of sport. I got to thinking about that upon the news Thursday of the passing of legendary trainer, manager, TV personality Emanuel Steward. Tommy Hearns was his kid. He taught him everything he knew, brought him to the world title, put him in some of the greatest fights weve ever seen. Steward was with Hearns. Leonard fought Duran, Hearns fought Hagler. Hagler fought Leonard. Everyone fought everyyone.dddddddddddd. And at a time when we cant get Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather anywhere near the same ring, an appreciation to Manny Steward for his time and his place in boxing history. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to the New York Islanders for abandoning the Nassau Mausoleum, um, Coliseum, when the lease expires in 2015. But my enthusiasm could vanish in a New York minute because of new challenges the franchise will face 30 miles away in Brooklyn. Like the Coyotes move from Phoenix to Glendale, the Islanders will blow up a percentage of their fan base and must cultivate a following in New York City - solid Rangers territory. Another issue: the Barclays Center seats only 14,500 for hockey, which demands hefty ticket prices. Owner Charles Wang had to flee the Island short-term. Long-term, the move could stink like week-old fish sticks. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is down to the Grey Cup champion B.C. Lions for one quarter of football that would have embarrassed a last-place team, and the Lions are a first-place team that is supposed to win the Grey Cup again. In Fridays 15 minutes of incompetence against Calgary, the Lions stumbled their way to a 24-0 deficit, which, at its worst not far into the second quarter, became 34-0. I know the Lions didnt use Travis Lulay, and the game didnt mean anything to them in the standings, but neither did it have meaning for Calgary, and the Stampeders approached the game properly as a playoff prep. The Lions couldnt say that, unless they want us to believe they were intending to focus on their kickoff returns. ' ' '