Francis Ngannou is currently one of the biggest names in the world of heavyweight combat sports. The former UFC champion is currently signed with PFL under a multi-million dollar contract. His immense influence and global fanbase have made him a target for many top heavyweights worldwide. Among those eyeing a potential showdown is Glory Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.
Rico Verhoeven is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time. The Dutch kickboxing legend is the long-reigning Glory Kickboxing champion, known for his dominance and skill. In a recent viral video, the fighter called out Francis Ngannou for a boxing match at Riyadh Season.
Ngannou recently defeated PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in the main event of the Battle of the Giants in Riyadh. He made his long-awaited return to MMA and destroyed Ferreira in the first round via ground and pound. It remained a significant win for the PFL champion given his son’s death earlier this year.
🚨Rico Verhoeven challenges Francis Ngannou for #RiyadhSeason
Not much left for Rico in kickboxing but a boxing match against Ngannou would be massive🔥
(h/t @HoussamNasr2) pic.twitter.com/d7Y0PDgyKY
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) December 27, 2024
Ngannou is best known for his dominance in MMA, but has also competed in other combat sports. In 2015, he secured a three-round decision victory over Farid Nair in a kickboxing match in France. Despite his two boxing losses, Ngannou impressed by pushing Tyson Fury to the limit in a close fight. All this makes a potential fight with Rico Verhoeven even more intriguing.
Francis Ngannou vs. Rico Verhoeven: Battle for the Baddest man on the planet
Rico Verhoeven has the reputation of remaining the ‘King of Kickboxing’ and has dominated Glory Kickboxing for years. He became the heavyweight champion back in 2014 and has successfully defended his title 12 times. Given his skillset, Verhoeven can achieve the same superstar status as other Glory Kickboxing like Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.
The title ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ remains often linked with the heavyweight fighters across all combat sports. Francis Ngannou, due to his punching power and fighting abilities, always remain a top contender for this title. In a recent interview, Verhoeven talked about why he wants to fight Ngannou.
Hey, I think, when we’re talking about ‘Baddest on the Planet’, and we’re talking about cross-over fights, this thing [Ngannou vs. Verhoeven] must happen. This must happen. It has to happen because we’ve been seeing, in the last few years, the most crazy fights and I think, yeah, this is one of them that needs to be added to the list
Rico Verhoeven via The Ariel Helwani Show
Rico Verhoeven to Francis Ngannou and PFL:
Let’s make it happen.#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/uy0DIEpv9K
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 23, 2024
The PFL remains well known for its interest in cross-promotion fights. They have already allowed Francis Ngannou to participate in high-profile boxing bouts. Going forward they have the chance to create a highly anticipated spectacle by matching a PFL champion against a GLORY kickboxing champion. On paper, this could be a showdown every fight fan would love to witness.
Related: Francis Ngannou girlfriend: Who is “The Predator” dating and why is she kept a secret?
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