Glory heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven has put forth a radical proposal that could significantly alter the landscape of combat sports. Known for his long-standing dominance in the kickboxing ring, Verhoeven is now aiming for a truly unique multi-disciplinary confrontation against one of the biggest crossover names in fighting: former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou.
The ambitious concept involves a series of three distinct bouts between the two heavyweight titans, each contested under a different, yet related, set of rules. The proposed sequence would include a kickboxing match, squarely in Verhoeven`s domain; a boxing match, where Ngannou has recently tested the waters; and finally, an MMA fight, Ngannou`s primary professional background. Verhoeven articulated this vision as something “unusual” and an idea that “no one has done before,” explicitly highlighting its potential to be “truly captivating and attract a full house.” He even drew a parallel to his past experience of fighting multiple times in a single evening, contrasting that test of immediate endurance with the layered challenge of this proposed trilogy.
Selecting Francis Ngannou as the “suitable opponent” for this unprecedented undertaking is a strategic move. Ngannou, since departing the UFC, has successfully transitioned into high-profile boxing matches while also signing with the PFL for future MMA contests. This makes him a rare figure who has actively competed, albeit with varying degrees of success, across multiple striking-focused and grappling-inclusive combat codes at the highest level. A three-part series against Verhoeven, a refined striking specialist, presents fascinating and potentially unpredictable stylistic clashes under each rule set.
Bringing such a complex, potentially multi-promotional, and inherently multi-disciplinary series to fruition is, by any measure, a significant logistical and organizational challenge. Verhoeven candidly acknowledged this complexity, stating the necessity to “find the right organization and someone who will take on the preparation and realization of this idea.” However, he expressed notable optimism regarding the concept`s feasibility. He specifically mentioned potential interest from Glory, his home promotion, and perhaps more significantly, from entities within Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has rapidly emerged as a central hub for major international combat sports events, possessing both the financial capacity and the ambition to stage ventures of this magnitude. The alignment of ambitious athletes like Verhoeven and Ngannou with eager promoters and well-funded hosts in emerging markets certainly creates potential pathways that were previously less apparent. The technical hurdles involve not just fight logistics but navigating promotional contracts, broadcasting rights, and potentially differing sanctioning body requirements across three separate events.
Should Verhoeven`s bold vision ever materialize, it would undeniably represent a landmark moment in modern combat sports history. It offers a unique test of adaptability and comprehensive skill sets among elite fighters, moving beyond the traditional focus on dominance within a single discipline. While the path from proposition to reality for this ambitious “triple threat” trilogy is fraught with complexities, the mere articulation of the idea by a respected champion like Verhoeven injects a stimulating, forward-looking element into the often-traditional world of professional fighting disciplines. It`s a concept that genuinely pushes the boundaries of what constitutes the “ultimate fighter.”
