An era has officially closed in the GLORY heavyweight division. Rico Verhoeven, the man who defined heavyweight kickboxing for more than a decade, has vacated the title he first captured in 2013. For 12 straight years, Verhoeven elevated the sport, defended his belt with cold precision, and built a legacy that carried kickboxing into a new generation.
The Dutch champion stacked up 26 consecutive wins in GLORY and held his crown for over 4,000 days, numbers that don’t just define dominance, they define history. But now, the “King of Kickboxing” has stepped down on his own terms.
“After more than twelve years, fifteen world title victories, and countless unforgettable nights, I’ve decided to vacate my GLORY Heavyweight World Title,” Verhoeven wrote on Instagram.
“I joined GLORY in 2012, and from that moment on, I gave everything to this sport and to the organisation.
“Together, we built something truly special sold out arenas, broke records, gave fans incredible fights and moments that helped shape the history of kickboxing,” he added.
The moment the news dropped, the combat sports world exploded with speculation. Verhoeven didn’t announce a retirement. Some believe he’s UFC-bound, noting his close relationship with current heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The two have trained together for years, but whether that stops them from fighting remains unclear.
Others want to see Verhoeven step into Zuffa Boxing when it launches in 2026. And, of course, there’s the heavyweight fantasy matchup everyone keeps mentioning: Rico Verhoeven vs. Francis Ngannou, either in the PFL cage or in a mixed-rules fight, one that has already been teased earlier this year. Comments immediately poured in:
“Tom is waiting.”
“Probably coming to the UFC.”
“This dude will be signed to the TKO Boxing group.”
“PFL have probably recruited him to fight Francis Ngannou.”
“Come to UFC, the heavyweight division (doesn’t) know the grappling except a few. He can succeed there.”
“He knows Tom Aspinall is easy work so he’s coming to the UFC.”
“@RicoVerhoeven come and save the UFC heavyweight division.”
What no one can deny is how much Verhoeven reshaped heavyweight kickboxing. His 12-year run included 13 title defenses and matchups against legends like Badr Hari, Antonio Silva, Anderson Silva, and Jamal Ben Saddik.
In his final defense, he dominated former GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov—who turned down a UFC contract after his Contender Series appearance.Verhoeven also acknowledged the people behind the scenes who helped keep GLORY alive during his era.
“I want to give a special acknowledgment to the dedicated people within GLORY who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring such a strong product to the world. Most of them remain unseen, but their passion is what keeps this sport alive and growing. I see you, and I’ve told many of you personally how much I value the way you carry kickboxing forward with heart, respect, and purpose.”
Beyond the ring, Rico Verhoeven has built a full-blown global brand. He has become a consistent training partner for Tom Aspinall, and he continues to expand into acting with film roles in Black Lotus, Den of Thieves 2, and the upcoming Road House 2 alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
For now, the king has stepped away from his throne, but he hasn’t walked away from the fight game. Wherever Rico Verhoeven goes next, one thing is certain: the combat sports world is already watching.
