Rico Verhoeven, the reigning GLORY Kickboxing heavyweight champion, has revealed that he is open to a high-profile fight against Francis Ngannou. The Dutch star also noted that conversations about the potential matchup began even before Ngannou’s name was brought up.
Speaking with MMA Fighting, Verhoeven said, “The talks have been there. We’ve been talking to [Saudi Arabia] for different fights. It was fun that Francis came out of the hat but we were already in talks before that. So I’m excited for whatever the future holds. I’m open to all kinds of fun.”
Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion known for his devastating knockouts, recently debuted in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) with a dominant first-round TKO victory over Brazilian fighter Renan Ferreira in Saudi Arabia.
The Cameroonian fighter continues to explore big-money opportunities outside traditional MMA, making a super fight between him and Verhoeven a realistic possibility.
Verhoeven, widely recognized as one of the most dominant figures in kickboxing, has also gained experience in MMA. He competed once in 2015 under the RXF banner in Romania, securing a first-round knockout victory against Viktor Bogutzki.
Most recently, Verhoeven headlined the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix earlier this year, defeating Levi Rigters in the tournament’s finale via TKO after a commanding performance.
Before entertaining the idea of a crossover fight, Verhoeven is focused on his December 7 bout at GLORY Collision 7, where he will once again face Rigters in his home country, the Netherlands. However, the possibility of facing Ngannou looms large for the Dutch champion.
“For me, the transition is not even a transition,” added Verhoeven. “I’ve been boxing for so many years already. Training with Peter Fury for years and years. He’s been my boxing coach for years and years. It’s second nature. I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever. First of course, we’ve got the 7th of December on the menu and then let’s see where we go. Whatever comes our way after that.”
The potential matchup between Verhoeven and Ngannou would answer the question of who deserves the title of “Baddest Man on the Planet.” With both men boasting fearsome striking abilities and global appeal, the fight promises to be a blockbuster event if it comes to fruition.
The combat sports world will no doubt keep a close eye on Verhoeven’s upcoming fight at GLORY Collision 7 and any future developments regarding a super fight with Ngannou.
