Rico Verhoeven (born 10 April 1989) is a Dutch professional kickboxer who currently competes in the heavyweight division of GLORY, where he is the reigning Glory Heavyweight Champion. A professional since 2004, he also competed in the K-1, It's Showtime and SUPERKOMBAT promotions. He is currently ranked the number one heavyweight in the world by Combat Press.[3] Verhoeven has been continually ranked as the number one heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press since September 2014, when the rankings were first established.[4][5]
Rico Verhoeven was born in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands. He began learning martial arts at age five, starting with Kyokushin. He was trained by his father, a karate black belt. After transitioning into kickboxing, Verhoeven began training at the age of seven and started competing against adults when he was only 16 years old, due to his large size.[2]
After competing in K-1, It's Showtime and SUPERKOMBAT, Verhoeven signed with Glory World Series.
He was drawn against Russian mixed martial artistSergei Kharitonov at the opening round of the sixteen-man 2012 Glory Heavyweight Grand Slam held at Glory 4: Tokyo - 2012 Heavyweight Grand Slam in Saitama, Japan on 31 December 2012. As he was leading the judges' scorecards after the first two, two-minute rounds, he advanced to the quarter-finals where he lost out to the eventual tournament winner Semmy Schilt by the same margin.[7][8][9]
Verhoeven was scheduled to make his professional boxing debut against Nikolaj Falin at Mix Fight Gala XV in Darmstadt, Germany on 26 April 2014[29] but his opponent was changed to János Finfera for undisclosed reasons.[30] Verhoeven defeated the Hungarian by second-round knockout.[31]
Verhoeven was scheduled to make the first defense of his Glory Heavyweight title against Errol Zimmerman at Glory 19: Virginia, in what would be their trilogy match.[35] Each fighter had previously won once, Verhoeven by decision, and Zimmerman by knockout.[36][37]
Verhoeven kept to out fighting, looking to deal damage with body kicks and straight shots, while keeping his opponent at distance with snap kicks and teep kicks. With a minute left in the first round, both fighters engaged in a wild exchange, with Errol being dropped at the end of it. He was once again dropped with a front kick, with half a minute left in the round. The fight ended in a technical knockout, as Zimmerman injured his left knee, following a missed spinning back kick.[38][39]
Adegbuyi fights
For his second title defense, Verhoeven was scheduled to fight the former SUPERKOMBAT Heavyweight GP winner Benjamin Adegbuyi at Glory 22: Lille.[40] Adegebuyi managed to stun the champion in the first round, before Verhoeven took over in the second. He dominated the rest of the affair, picking up in both volume and pace as the fight went on, while Adegbuyi slowed down. Rico won the fight by unanimous decision (49–47, 49–47 and 50–45).[41][42]
After this loss, Adegbuyi won the 2015 Glory Heavyweight Contender Tournament, to once again earn a title shot at Glory 26: Amsterdam, six months after their first fight.[43][44] The second fight ended with a first-round KO, with Verhoeven quickly overwhelming his opponent and knocking him out with right hook.[45][46] After this fight, Verhoeven changed his nickname from "Prince of Kickboxing" to "King of Kickboxing".[47]
Verhoeven was scheduled to defend his title for the fourth time just three months later, at Glory 28: Paris, against the newly crowned FFC Heavyweight champion Mladen Brestovac.[48] Just as with his two previous title bouts against Benjamin Adegbuyi, Verhoeven was thoroughly dominant, despite a slow first round which he lost with one of the judges. He won the fight by unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, 50–45).[49]
For his fifth consecutive title defense, Verhoeven was to face the Brazilian Anderson Braddock Silva at Glory 33: New Jersey.[50] Verhoeven began the fight with several leg kicks, which he would keep throwing for the duration of the bout, landing 16 kicks from 22 attempts in the first round alone. Early in the second round, he knocked Silva down with an inside right leg kick. After 40 seconds in the second round, Verhoeven once again knocked Silva down, this time with a left leg head kick. He would knock Silva down for the third time with five seconds left in the second round, forcing the referee to wave the fight off.[51][52]
Verhoeven vs. Hari
The 10 December 2016 bout against former world champion Badr Hari at GLORY Collision in Oberhausen, Germany, was considered a watershed moment for Verhoeven's career, with Hari being a very entertaining, albeit controversial fighter, who had been a dominant force in the kickboxing community, while also being taller (1.98 to 1.96m) with a reach advantage over Verhoeven. Competing for the first time in over a year, Hari promised he would knock out Verhoeven in the first round.[53] Intending to keep his promise, Hari came out aggressively in the first round, opening a cut on Verhoeven's nose early in the fight. Hari won the first round. The GLORY heavyweight champion returned more aggressive in the second round, but the fight ended by an injury at Hari's arm after which he couldn't continue the fight.[54] Verhoeven scored the 50th victory of his kickboxing career with a TKO.[55]
After defeating Hari, Glory was unable to find an appropriate opponent for Verhoeven, and so arranged for him to fight the reigning Enfusion Super Heavyweight champion Ismael Lazaar in a non-title fight at Glory 41: Holland.[56] Verhoeven dominated the fight, with Lazaar being unable to cover the distance, being six inches shorter than the champion. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[57] Lazaar would later fail a doping test and was suspended for four years.[58]
Glory would once again book Verhoeven in a non-title match against Antônio Silva, in what the website Bloody Elbow called a "gross mismatch".[59] Silva was given a 35-1 odds to win. Verhoeven abandoned his usual strategy of outfighting, unleashing several combinations on the MMA fighter. The fight ended in a technical knockout, after Rico knocked Silva down with a head kick 43 seconds into the second round.[60]
Verhoeven vs. Ben Saddik
Verhoeven fought Jamal Ben Saddik in defense of Glory heavyweight title, on 9 December 2017.[61] In a fight that has been called the biggest fight in kickboxing history due to the size of the contestants, with Jamal being 6' 9", 280lbs and Rico himself at 6' 5", 260lbs. Jamal defeated a young Rico in their first meeting in 2011, but since then has had a record of 11 wins to 6 losses, while Rico climbed the P4P rankings and established himself as a kickboxing world champion.[62]
Ben Saddik found success early on in the fight, before Verhoeven took over as the fight went on, winning by a fifth-round TKO.[63]
Verhoeven was again scheduled to defend his title at Glory 54: Birmingham, in a rematch with Mladen Brestovac. Verhoeven had won five straight fights since their first meeting, while Brestovac came into the fight on a three fight winning streak.[64] The champion stuck to his patented outfighting, damaging the challenger with low kicks and front kicks from distance early, and unleashing hand combinations later in the fight. Verhoeven won a comfortable unanimous decision with 50–45 on all five scorecards.[65][66]
He was scheduled to defend his title for a record setting eighth time at Glory 59: Amsterdam, when he faced the WGP Heavyweight champion Guto Inocente.[67] Inocente would use several illegal moves during the fight, such as a foot sweep and a judo throw, however, Verhoeven would again dominate the bout, winning all five rounds on each of the judges scorecards.[68][69]
Verhoeven vs. Hari II
Rico training in 2020.
For his ninth title defense, Verhoeven was set to fight a rematch with Badr Hari at Glory 74: Arnhem. Since their first fight, Hari had served a prison sentence, and had only fought once in the meantime, he won against Hesdy Gerges by unanimous decision but later turned into a no-contest.[70]
The fight itself took place in the sold out GelreDome, in front of 30 000 fans.[71] Verhoeven began the fight in an uncharacteristically aggressive fashion, and was knocked down at the 1:40 minute mark of the first round. He found more success in the second round, but was once again knocked down with a head kick in the third round. The fight ended in the third round, with Verhoeven winning by TKO, after Hari broke his ankle with a missed kick.[72][73]
Aside from selling out the arena, the rematch also drew 3.5 million viewers, an estimated 53% of the live television audience in the Netherlands, which was the second highest viewership of a live sports broadcast, in Dutch television history.[74]
Glory 77
It was revealed by Glory in October 2020 that Verhoeven would fight a trilogy match with Jamal Ben Saddik in early 2021, although the exact date and event weren't announced.[75] Their fight was a rubber match, as both fighters held a TKO win over the other.[76] Their fight was later scheduled for Glory 77 on 30 January 2021.[77] 11 days before the event, Ben Saddik withdrew due to a back injury.[78] Accordingly, Verhoeven was scheduled to take part in a four-man heavyweight tournament, facing Hesdy Gerges in the semifinals,[79] after Gerges called Verhoeven out.[80] He won the semifinal bout against Hesdy Gerges by unanimous decision, and the final bout against Tarik Khbabez by TKO, after Khbabez retired at the end of the first round.[81]
Verhoeven vs. Ben Saddik III
It was announced on August 23, 2021 that Verhoeven would make the tenth defense of his Glory Heavyweight Championship against the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix winner Alistair Overeem. The fight was scheduled for Glory: Collision 3 on October 23, 2021.[82] On October 7, it was revealed that Overeem had suffered an injury in training and was forced to withdraw from the bout. Overeem was replaced by Jamal Ben Saddik, who stepped in on two-weeks notice.[83] Verhoeven defeated Ben Saddik by TKO in the fourth round.[84]
Verhoeven vs. Gerges IV
On April 12, 2022, it was announced that Verhoeeven's next fight would take place at the inaugural "HIT IT" event, a sports and live entertainment show.[85] Although it was initially assumed that the fight would be an exhibition bout, on June 2 it was revealed that he would face the former It's Showtime World Heavyweight champion Hesdy Gerges for the fourth time in his professional career and who he had beaten in all three of their previous meetings. The quadrilogy bout headlined the "HIT IT" event, which took place on October 29, 2022, at the Rotterdam Ahoy.[86] Verhoeven won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout.[87]
Verhoeven vs. Osaro
Verhoeven was expected to make his eleventh Glory heavyweight title defense against Antonio Plazibat. The title bout was initially supposed to take place in spring 2023, but was postponed after Verhoeven suffered a knee injury in training.[88] As Plazibat suffered a stoppage loss to Tariq Osaro in an interim Glory Heavyweight Championship bout at Glory: Collision 5 on June 17, 2023, Verhoeven was re-scheduled to face him instead.[89] The title unification bout took place at Glory: Collision 6 on November 4, 2023.[90] Verhoeven won the fight by unanimous decision (49–47, 50–46, and 50–45 x3).[91]
GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix
Verhoeven is scheduled to face Sofian Laidouni in the quarterfinals of the Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix on March 9, 2024.[92] He won the fight by a routine unanimous decision.[93] Verhoeven next faced Nabil Khachab in the semifinal bout of the one-day tournament. He likewise won the fight by unanimous decision.[94] Verhoeven captured the tournament title, as well as the $500,000 prize, with a second-round technical knockout of Levi Rigters.[95]
Verhoeven is tall and very athletic for a fighter his size.[citation needed] Besides his physical gifts, he is an intelligent fighter. He has a wide arsenal of attacks, most notably his powerful low kicks, and a tight defense. He also worked closely with WBC and Lineal heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, whom he credits with turning his jab into the highly effective weapon it is now.[2]
In 2022, the four-part docu-series RICO: Dream Big followed Verhoeven in the run-up to his fight against Badr Hari and his attempts to break through in Hollywood.
Badr Hari is a Dutch kickboxer. He is a former K-1 Heavyweight World Champion (2007–2008), It's Showtime Heavyweight World Champion (2009–2010) and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 and 2009 finalist. Known for his aggressive and explosive fighting style, Hari is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time.
Errol Zimmerman is a Curaçaoan-Dutch kickboxer, representing the Hemmers Gym in Breda, Netherlands. He is K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Amsterdam and SUPERKOMBAT Fight Club tournaments champion. Zimmerman is also former Glory Heavyweight Championship and K-1 Super Heavyweight Championship challenger. In 2011 WIPU voted him the Kickboxer of the Year.
Mladen Brestovac is a Croatian heavyweight Muay Thai kickboxer, currently signed to Final Fight Championship, where he is the current FFC Heavyweight champion, and GLORY. He previously competed in K-1 and SUPERKOMBAT.
Daniel Florin Ghiță is a Romanian politician and former kickboxer, who serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania since December 2020.
Hesdy Gerges is a Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He held the It's Showtime World Heavyweight title between 2010 and 2012. Gerges has competed in the K-1, It's Showtime, SUPERKOMBAT and Glory promotions.
Anderson Manoel da Silva, better known as Anderson Braddock, is a Brazilian heavyweight kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He has competed in the It's Showtime, K-1, SUPERKOMBAT, ONE Championship, and GLORY.
Glory, formerly ‘Glory World Series’ is an international combat sports league based in the United Kingdom. It is owned by Pierre Andurand, Yao Capital, Scott Rudmann and other investors.
Carlos Augusto "Guto" Inocente Filho is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Inocente formerly competed for the UFC and Strikeforce in MMA.
Ismael Londt is a Surinamese-Dutch kickboxer.
Benjamin Adekunle Miron Adegbuyi is a Romanian kickboxer and professional boxer. He is a two-time Glory Heavyweight Championship challenger and three-time winner of heavyweight tournament. Adegbuyi is also Superkombat World Grand Prix III 2012 tournament winner and 2018 Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament runner-up. A professional since 2011, he also fought in K-1.
Jamal Ben Saddik is a Belgian professional kickboxer. He is a former two-time Glory Heavyweight Championship challenger and 2018 Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament winner.
Jahfarr Wilnis is a Dutch Surinamese kickboxer, currently competing in the heavyweight division of Glory. He is the 2015 Kunlun Fight Super Heavyweight Tournament winner and the former Enfusion Heavyweight World Champion.
The year 2017 was the sixth year in the history of Glory, an international kickboxing event. The year started with Glory 37: Los Angeles. The events were broadcast through television agreements with ESPN and other regional channels around the world.
Antonio Plazibat is a Croatian professional kickboxer, who currently competes in the Heavyweight division of Glory. Plazibat was the 2014 FFC Futures Light Heavyweight tournament winner, the 2017 K-1 WGP Heavyweight World Grand Prix winner and a former K-1 Heavyweight Champion.
The year 2018 was the seventh year in the history of Glory, an international kickboxing promotion. The year started with Glory 50: Chicago. The events were broadcast through television agreements with ESPN, Fight Network, and other regional channels around the world.
Tarik Khbabez is a Moroccan-Dutch kickboxer currently signed to Glory, where he is the Glory Light Heavyweight Champion. He formerly competed SUPERKOMBAT Fighting Championship, having won the SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament in 2015. Khbabez has also competed in ONE Championship is a former ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing world title challenger. In 2021, he was the runner up for the Glory 77: Rotterdam Heavyweight Tournament.
Levi Rigters is a Dutch kickboxer currently signed with Glory, where he competes in the heavyweight division. He is a former Enfusion Heavyweight Champion and 2020 Glory 76 Heavyweight Tournament winner.
The year 2021 was the tenth year in the history of Glory, an international kickboxing promotion. Glory 77: Rotterdam was available on Pay-per-view through Glory and official distribution partnerships with FITE TV, Spike Netherlands, Sport Extra and La Sueur,. Later events were streamed on the Glory Fights Pay-per-view platform.
Sofian Laïdouni is a French-Algerian kickboxer, currently competing in the heavyweight division of Glory. As of June 2023, he is ranked as the eighth-best heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kickboxing.
Nabil Khachab is a Dutch Moroccan kickboxer and mixed martial artist, currently competing in the heavyweight division of Glory. As of April 2024, he is ranked as the tenth best heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kickboxing.
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