News Verhoeven holds talks with the UFC.

[BoxerMaurits]

Feels like Wrzosek who looked fine in MMA until they matched him up with a grappler in De Fries and he got demolished

Arek Wrzosek and Rico Verhoeven can’t be mentioned in the same breath when it comes to kickboxing. Completely different ball league.

It’s MMA though, so let’s see.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

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After 4,418 days as GLORY Heavyweight Champion, 13 successful title defenses, and winning the GLORY 8-man Heavyweight Grand Prix, Rico Verhoeven has officially vacated his title and left the world’s premier Kickboxing organization.
The 36-year-old Verhoeven has decided to move on from GLORY to pursue new challenges outside of Kickboxing, focusing on UFC/MMA, professional Boxing, or crossover superfights. He’s now a free agent, able to sign with any promotion.
The “King of Kickboxing” has already held talks with several major organizations, including the UFC, per Ariel Helwani.

GLORY has confirmed the news, praising Verhoeven’s decade-plus of dominance and announcing a major 2026 competitive overhaul, including yearly one-night tournaments and more active champions.
A new GLORY Heavyweight Champion will be crowned on February 7 at the Last Heavyweight Standing 8-man Grand Prix.

Despite the split, Rico shared an emotional message, saying he “gave everything to this sport and this organisation” since joining GLORY in 2012, selling out massive arenas, breaking records, and helping shape modern Kickboxing.
He thanked the behind-the-scenes staff, Pierre Andurand, and fans worldwide, adding: “It’s not a goodbye, it’s an until we meet again.”

Where do you want to see Rico Verhoeven fight next?

UFC? Boxing? PFL? Let me know!

—

: @BoxerMaurits

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I guess it will be boxing.. more money, easier transition, etc.

I don't know how he would translate. He is not much a big puncher.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

I went and watched some tape on him. He seems very aggressive for a kickboxer

Did you watch tape on Rico or Rozenstruik?

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

Did you watch tape on Rico or Rozenstruik?

Rico.

Watched a few highlight videos on Glory’s YouTube channel.

Normally I think they tend to be more about spacing and picking shots etc. this dude just mauls people

 

[ChrisBenoit]

I heard he's signing with power slap

 

[Poirierfan]

Yes this is true!

@Deadwing88 If you can include my Instagram post in the OP, Sherbros will have everything they need to know

They'll have to pay him a lot more than 12k/12k.

 

[don't ask]

After 4,418 days as GLORY Heavyweight Champion,

For everyone who doesn't use the metric system, this is 12 years.

 

[Poirierfan]

Rico is still so attractive

We we

Speaking of looks, I found this old family photo yesterday. I miss my hair. , I was like 16 but looked 13

 

[Luthien]

@Poirierfan
Thanks for sharing

 

[BoxerMaurits]

His striking style would have to change drastically for him to have any chance in MMA. His really doesn't translate well at all.

Crazy that he's leaving kickboxing. No one in kickboxing can ask for anything near the sort of money he was able to. It must really be drying up if even he's leaving now. It's not like he has much serious competition anymore except for Rigters, who he still beats easily enough. Rigters lost in the tourney recently anyway so it's not like Rico even had to worry about him for a while.

Glory lost another long time champ to MMA just the other week as well. It sucks, but it feels like Kickboxing is dying.

Man, I always wanted to see Bahram Rajabzadeh and Antonio Plazibat take on Rico so bad, and we were so, so close to getting both of them…
Plazibat vs Verhoeven was a done deal and was going to happen, but then the champ got injured and the fight fell through (and Plazibat hasn’t competed since the Cookie fight back then because of his gruesome arm break… but next month he’ll be back headlining GLORY Collision 8!), and Bahram was going to fight Rico had he defeated Levi Rigters, but unfortunately for him that title-eliminator fight ended in a doctor stoppage.

You already know both of them would’ve gotten in there to try and take Rico’s head off, so that would’ve been fucking awesome heavyweight title fights!
But oh well, maybe we’ll get Bahram vs Plazibat instead one day. Violence X Violence


The other GLORY champ transitioning to MMA you’re talking about though, Tyjani Beztati, that’s also going to be very interesting to follow over the next few years. I really believe he has what it takes to become a force in the Lightweight division.
The guy is so slick and precise. A thing of beauty to see him compete!

 

[KDR by RNC]

What a dawg

 

[cmw43]

Too old... he'll go to ONE or boxing cause of moar money and less competition, and I get it.

What about Vs Francis in boxing? Francis seems to be struggling for noteworthy opponents.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

What about Vs Francis in boxing? Francis seems to be struggling for noteworthy opponents.

Verhoeven vs Ngannou (?) was apparently on the table and close to happening involving Turki Alalshikh, but something caused the big Saudi Boxing superfight they had lined up for Rico to fall through.
According to Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf:

https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/rico-verhoeven-treedt-af-als-wereldkampioen-bij-glory/104143994.html

 

[AMAZINGUFC]

 

[BroRogan]

@BoxerMaurits How would you see him doing in the UFC? Thinking of the age and him being in his 2nd half of his 30s already. On the other hand Poatan also joined pretty "late" and we see how he is doing...

 

[Harlekin]

Doubt the UFC will offer him enough money.
It's just to keep his name in the media and to raise other offers.
He will do some boxing and movies. He already has a dozen appearances in movies and series.
Working within road house 2 right now.
He's 37 soon and wants to cash out big time at the end of his career.

He trains with Aspinall for a long time, so he might have some grappling.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

no one knows who he is outside of hardcores, he doesnt have the name power to draw a big money boxing fight IMO. ngannou sure, but who cares? the casual has never heard of rico.

the best scenario would be he signs with UFC and then the UFC paves another poatan path to the title for him. nothing but non wrestlers and below level strikers. then he can get immediate title shot against whoever, and let the cards fall where they may. but hope for the best, poatan style. that would be absolute best case scenario.

worst case, they sign him for peanuts, tout him up as best as the commentary can, while serving him jailton almeida, curtis blades, and then he 0-2.

 

[Neck&Neck]

 

[Escabar]

Unfortunately he's likely far too old to pick up the required skill to succeed at either mma or boxing. Mma has a much smaller talent pool but also less money. Would have been interesting if he made the move few yrs back.

 

[Trabaho]

Rico.

Watched a few highlight videos on Glory’s YouTube channel.

Normally I think they tend to be more about spacing and picking shots etc. this dude just mauls people

nah you just caught the highlights. Usually he fights very conservative relatively speaking. But he wins almost all rounds vs everyone. His KO ratio is not high for HW kickboxing. He is a unit and ultra fit and big. And technically sound. He doesn´t force KOs.