Rico Verhoeven had the possibility to be on Netflix’s very first MMA card.
The legendary kickboxer entered 2026 as one in every of the most popular free agents in combat sports, having ended his 12-year Glory title reign to pursue latest challenges.
Many were hoping to see a mixed martial arts enterprise but Verhoeven rejected the UFC after being offered a fight against Derrick Lewis for his debut.
Because it seems, that was not the one MMA offer that arrived on the Dutchman’s door.
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Rico Verhoeven turned down Francis Ngannou fight on Netflix because he already gave his ‘word’ to Turki Alalshikh
Verhoeven will challenge Oleksandr Usyk for boxing’s WBC heavyweight world title in Egypt on May 23.
The kickboxing great’s decision to step into the ring against one in every of boxing’s all-time best got here despite more cash being on the table elsewhere.
Verhoeven was offered to fight Francis Ngannou on the Netflix card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano on May 16.
During a recent interview with Smash Solid, ‘Prince of Kickboxing’ said he had already verbally agreed to the Usyk fight and didn’t wish to return on his word.
“You’re one hundred pc right. That’s one hundred pc correct,” Verhoeven said when Chael Sonnen asked if he turned down more cash from MVP to fight Ngannou.
“I got loads more cash from MVP, but my word is my every part,” he added.
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With Jake Paul’s Most Beneficial Promotions unable to secure Verhoeven for the lineup at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, Ngannou will fight Philipe Lins as a substitute within the Netflix co-main event.
Meanwhile, Verhoeven is trying to shock the world by taking Usyk’s ‘0’ within the ring, something the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois have all failed to realize.