MMA News

Tag: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven

  • Rico Verhoeven Breaks Silence On Final Sequence Against Oleksandr Usyk, Admits Confusion Over Controversial Stoppage

    Rico Verhoeven has now offered one of his most detailed accounts yet of the chaotic final moments in his fight against Oleksandr Usyk, and from his perspective, the ending felt anything but clear.

    Speaking during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Verhoeven walked through the sequence that led to the controversial Round 11 stoppage, starting with the uppercut that put him on the canvas.

    “I got hit with the uppercut. People who know my fights know I’ve been dropped multiple times… No matter how much time is left on the clock, I get back up, and I end up winning,” Verhoeven explained.

    Despite the knockdown, the Dutch star said his mindset never wavered. Once back on his feet, he believed survival, not recovery, was the immediate goal.

    “That was the mindset… I got back up, they put the mouthpiece back in, and I heard there were only 10 seconds left. So I thought, ‘Oh, okay, that’s good.’”

    With the round nearly over, Verhoeven expected a final push from “The Cat” and planned accordingly.

    “Let me keep my hands up and get to the 12th round. I knew he was going to come straight at me, so I thought, ‘Pop, pop, keep my hands up and wait until the bell goes.’”

    But what followed is where confusion set in.

    “And then it was just like, when is the bell gonna go? Those 10 seconds were taking a long time,” he said. “Then he jumped in, and I was like, ‘Ok, f—, the round is over.’”

    Instead of hearing the bell, “King of Kickboxing” was met with the referee stepping in to stop the fight, a moment that caught him completely off guard.

    “He’s like, ‘No, it’s over.’ I was like, ‘What the heck is going on here?’”

  • Was Rico Verhoeven Robbed Against Oleksandr Usyk? Breaking Down The Controversial Stoppage At Glory In Giza

    Oleksandr Usyk walked away with his undefeated record intact, but his latest victory over Rico Verhoeven has sparked heavy debate following a controversial finish in Egypt.

    Fighting in front of the Pyramids of Giza for the WBC heavyweight title, “The Cat” secured a technical knockout at 2:59 of Round 11. However, the timing of the stoppage has quickly become the biggest talking point of the night.

    Verhoeven, competing in just his second professional boxing bout, delivered a surprisingly competitive performance against one of the sport’s most accomplished champions. With constant movement, size, and physical pressure, the Dutchman troubled Usyk for long stretches of the fight.

    In fact, heading into the championship rounds, many observers believed “King of Kickboxing” was either ahead or well within reach on the scorecards. Open scoring only added to the intrigue, as all three judges had the fight deadlocked at 76-76 after eight rounds.

    The challenger’s approach was clear. He targeted the body consistently, used his weight advantage in close exchanges, and disrupted Usyk’s rhythm with an awkward, mobile style. While Usyk had his moments, including a sharp uppercut in Round 4, Verhoeven repeatedly answered back and built momentum in the middle rounds.

    That momentum appeared to carry into the later stages until Round 11 changed everything.

    With less than 30 seconds remaining, Usyk landed a clean uppercut that sent Verhoeven to the canvas. The former kickboxing champion beat the count and got back to his feet, visibly shaken but still responsive. As the action resumed, Usyk pressed forward with a flurry of punches.

    Here’s where the controversy erupted.

    Despite “King of Kickboxing” remaining upright, with his guard partially intact and attempting to defend himself, the referee stepped in and waved off the fight with just one second left in the round. The abrupt stoppage immediately drew protests from Verhoeven and his corner, who believed he was denied the chance to survive the final moments and recover between rounds.

    Given how close the fight appeared to be, the decision left many questioning whether Verhoeven was unfairly robbed of a potential historic upset.

    “The Cat” improves to 25-0 with the victory, further cementing his legacy as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Verhoeven, now 1-1 in boxing, exits with his stock arguably rising despite the loss.

    In the aftermath, talk of a rematch has already surfaced, with interest building in giving Verhoeven another opportunity following a performance that exceeded nearly all expectations, even if it ended under a cloud of controversy.

  • Rico Verhoeven Explains Why He Snubbed UFC For Massive Fight Against Oleksandr Usyk

    Rico Verhoeven had no shortage of options when he decided to walk away from GLORY as its long-reigning heavyweight champion. After more than a decade of dominance and an unbeaten run that made him one of the sport’s most recognizable figures, the Dutch star found himself at a crossroads.

    With his contract nearing its end, “King of Kickboxing” began exploring new opportunities, and interest came quickly. The UFC was among the promotions that showed serious intent, especially given his training experience alongside Tom Aspinall.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Verhoeven explained how the decision ultimately played out.

    “It’s been one hell of a ride, I can tell you that,” Verhoeven said. “I really felt like my GLORY contract was coming to an end, and I was like, we did it all. Kickboxing, it was just played out. From there on, we just started looking around and seeing what other opportunities were there.”

    Both MMA and boxing were legitimate paths at the time.

    “We were looking at UFC, we were looking at a big crossover in boxing, and both options were on the table,” he continued. “The boxing opportunity looked more interesting, so that’s the road we took.”

    That choice now leads “King of Kickboxing” to one of the most unique settings in combat sports. Verhoeven is scheduled to face Oleksandr Usyk this Saturday in Egypt, with the fight taking place in front of the Pyramids of Giza. The bout will see him challenge for Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title.

    Usyk enters the contest with an unblemished 24-0 professional record and is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of his era.

  • Alistair Overeem Issues Strong Warning To Rico Verhoeven About One Fighter He Should Never Face in MMA – ‘Stay Away From That’

    Alistair Overeem doesn’t believe a potential clash between Rico Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou would be competitive — and he’s urging the kickboxing star to stay far away from that matchup.

    Speaking during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former UFC title challenger explained why Verhoeven’s skillset wouldn’t translate well into mixed martial arts against someone like Ngannou.

    “I think against Francis, he would not stand much of a chance,” Overeem said. “Just basically because he’s missing the wrestling and the submissions. He’s just not training that.”

    Overeem emphasized that the gap isn’t something that can be closed quickly, no matter how elite Verhoeven’s striking may be.

    “It takes years to develop that, and it shouldn’t be underestimated,” he continued. “You’re just not gonna catch up with those years of experience just like that in a training camp.”

    While Verhoeven has dominated kickboxing for years, Overeem believes stepping into the cage against a well-rounded heavyweight like Ngannou would be a completely different challenge.

    “Francis Ngannou is totally a no-go area,” Overeem added. “Stay away from that. Francis is clever. He’s just going to win the fight — and it would not even be a difficult fight.”

    Instead of pursuing MMA, Verhoeven has opted to test himself in boxing, where he is set to face Oleksandr Usyk at the “Glory in Giza” event in Egypt. The bout represents a massive opportunity for the longtime kickboxing champion to elevate his profile on a global stage.

    “The Predator”, meanwhile, has already shown his ability to transition between sports, recently returning to MMA competition on MVP’s debut event after a stint in boxing.

  • Who Is Mai Soliman? Everything To Know About Egyptian-Born Boxer’s Record Ahead Of Historic Glory In Giza Fight

    Mai Soliman is set to compete on one of the most unique fight cards in recent memory, stepping into the ring at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23.

    The Egyptian-born Australian will challenge Mizuki Hiruta for the WBO and The Ring super-flyweight titles as part of the “Glory in Giza” event, headlined by Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven.

    For Soliman, the setting adds another layer. She was born just outside Cairo before moving abroad at a young age, and now returns to fight for her first world title on one of boxing’s most historic stages.

    Who Is Mai Soliman?

    Soliman is a 28-year-old super-flyweight boxer representing Australia, though her roots trace back to Egypt. She has built most of her professional career fighting on the Australian circuit, often competing at the Revesby Workers’ Club, far removed from the global spotlight she is about to step into.

    She enters this bout with an impressive 10-1 professional record, including six knockout victories.

    Her most recent outing came in November 2025, where she picked up a win over Jasmine Parr to extend her momentum heading into her first world title opportunity.

    The only setback in Soliman’s career came in September 2022, when she suffered a loss to Bec Moss. Since then, she has responded with a consistent run of wins to put herself in position for a world title shot.