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Tag: Rico Verhoeven

  • ‘What A Robbery, What A Fix’ – UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Explodes Over Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Controversial Stoppage

    Tom Aspinall didn’t hold back after watching Rico Verhoeven fall short against Oleksandr Usyk in their WBC heavyweight title clash, labeling the ending as nothing short of outrageous.

    The UFC heavyweight champion was watching the fight live on his YouTube channel when the dramatic finish unfolded. With just one second remaining in Round 11, the referee stepped in to stop the bout following a late flurry from Usyk, a decision that immediately sparked widespread debate.

    Aspinall’s reaction was instant and emotional.

    “Oh, what? He stopped it? No f*cking way,” Aspinall said during the live stream on his YouTube channel. “For a world title fight, he stopped it with about five or six unanswered shots. What? Mate, what the f*cking hell is that? What a robbery. What a fix that is.”

    The British heavyweight, who has trained alongside Verhoeven in the past, made it clear he believed the stoppage wasn’t just premature but deeply questionable.

    “I think he’s fine there. Gum shield’s gone, but I think he’s alright… Last 10 seconds, Rico can survive this,” he said. “Oh what, he stopped it?! No f*cking way!”

    Aspinall went further by comparing the decision to other recent fights, arguing that far worse damage has been allowed to continue without intervention.

    “Two weeks ago, we were at Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois ringside,” he said. “Mate, that happened probably 10 times. Sent Fabio Wardley out there, big swollen eye, nose smashed, dropped multiple times… they let that go. Rico gets stumbled with 10 seconds left and they don’t even let him make it to the end of the round? It’s a f*cking robbery.”

    He also pointed to the timing of the stoppage, suggesting Verhoeven was denied a fair chance to recover between rounds.

    “The bell went. So he stopped it after the round, basically,” Aspinall said. “Why not give him a chance? It’s not like he was taking a beating for the full fight. He took a few punches late, with one round to go. I can’t believe that.”

    Beyond the stoppage itself, Aspinall hinted at a broader issue within the sport, questioning whether fighters from outside traditional boxing backgrounds are given a fair shake.

    “Boxing don’t want anyone else to win. Simple as that,” he said. “They want boxers with the amateur style, Olympic medals, unbeaten records. That’s what they want. They don’t like other combat sports. It’s bullsh*t.”

    Verhoeven had entered the fight as a heavy underdog with limited professional boxing experience, but his performance surprised many, with some believing he was competitive on the scorecards heading into the final rounds.

  • 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.

  • Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Sparks Massive Title Controversy Before May 23 Showdown

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven Sparks Massive Title Controversy Before May 23 Showdown

    Oleksandr Usyk is set to defend his heavyweight titles against Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, but the championship picture surrounding the fight is anything but straightforward.

    The undefeated Ukrainian enters the bout holding the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles after previously relinquishing the WBO belt. However, due to the unique nature of this crossover clash, each sanctioning body has taken a different stance on what is actually at stake.

    Confusion Surrounds Usyk’s Titles Ahead Of Verhoeven Fight

    Out of Usyk’s three remaining belts, only the WBC title will officially be on the line for Verhoeven. The governing body approved the fight as a voluntary defense, allowing the champion to face a non-traditional opponent instead of his mandatory challenger.

    That decision has sparked backlash, especially considering Verhoeven’s limited boxing experience. Still, the WBC justified its stance by pointing to Usyk’s activity level and the history of fighters transitioning from other combat sports into boxing.

    The WBA, meanwhile, has taken a more unusual position. While “The Cat” will enter the fight recognized as champion, Verhoeven will not be eligible to win the belt even if he pulls off a massive upset. Instead, a victory would only earn him a place in the rankings, with the organization set to review the title situation if Usyk loses.

    The IBF has also imposed strict conditions. If Usyk is defeated, the belt will be declared vacant immediately. If he wins, the sanctioning body will move forward with its mandatory title defense rotation.

    Mandatory Obligations And Growing Controversy

    The situation has drawn criticism across the boxing world, particularly because it delays a mandatory title defense against top contender Agit Kabayel. Promoter Frank Warren has already warned of potential legal action if the WBC fails to enforce that obligation after the fight.

    Despite the controversy, “The Cat” has remained firm in his decision, making it clear he wanted the freedom to choose this matchup. Now, with multiple titles governed under different rules for the same fight, the May 23 showdown has become one of the most unusual championship scenarios in recent boxing history.

  • Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been able to build a perfect training regime around him in England where he only works with other large bodies. His specifically tailored training has been a huge benefit to the Brit but it also doesn’t stop him from travelling from time to time to work with some other specialist partners.

    A long-time friend and training partner of his is none other than “The King of Kickboxing”, Rico Verhoeven. The Dutch striker is the long-reigning heavyweight champion in GLORY and with his next title defense scheduled for GLORY Collision 7 on December 7, he recently got some sparring rounds in with one of the best heavyweights in MMA.

    Though he didn’t show what could be PPV quality sparring rounds between the two lethal strikers, Aspinall did put up a YouTube video that featured the elite kickboxer. As well as their conversation regarding a potential crossover fight between Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou, the interim heavyweight champion invited him on the channel for a “dead leg challenge” which guests have featured on in the past.

    Here, both competitors will take turns throwing leg kicks that start at very low percent power and slowly build. However, usually these guests are not fighters so Aspinall is teaching them the technique and then getting them to do it to him which has little impact on him.

    This time around, in his own words, he is the beginner when he’s in the company of Verhoeven who is one of the best leg kickers in the sport. Given that both of them are very effective kickers, they chose to start right from the 70% mark, going up 10% each time for a total of three kicks each.

    Though Aspinall is able to take the punishment and dish it back out, Verhoeven seems to be enjoying himself more and more with each kick that he takes. His incredible durability is one of his biggest strengths, especially when it comes to competing in Grand Prix tournaments and it’s clear to see why in this video.