Breaking news! Kickboxing legend relinquishes GLORY heavyweight title after 12 years of dominance.

Verhoeven promotes GLORY event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/RicoVerhoeven

Rico Verhoeven surprised the combat sports community last Thursday (20). The Dutchman, who made his mark in GLORY and became a kickboxing legend, decided to relinquish the heavyweight belt. The renowned striker made the shocking announcement on his official 'Instagram' account.

In this way, Verhoeven himself put an end to his reign in the category, which lasted 13 years. As champion, the Dutchman defended the title 15 times, becoming one of the most dominant and feared fighters in kickboxing.

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Verhoeven's decision was surprising because he never hid his love for kickboxing and GLORY, and in his last performance, held in June, he shone in the ring by defeating Artem Vakhitov, a rival of... Alex PoatánDespite the bombshell information, the legend of the sport hinted that he has not retired. It is still unknown what the legendary fighter's next step will be in combat sports.

Verhoeven in the UFC?

At 36 years old and with legendary kickboxing status, Rico Verhoeven has seen his name linked to the UFC. In fact, fans are hoping the Dutchman will switch sports, as he is a friend and training partner of... Tom aspinall, the heavyweight champion of Dana White's company, has been training MMA.

Verhoeven's official statement

"After more than 12 years, 15 title wins, and countless unforgettable nights, I have decided to relinquish my GLORY World Heavyweight Championship. I joined GLORY in 2012 and, from that moment on, I dedicated myself entirely to this sport and the organization. Together, we built something truly special: packed arenas, broken records, incredible fights for the fans, and moments that helped shape the history of kickboxing. I want to especially thank 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 have told many of you personally how much I value the way you carry kickboxing forward, with heart, respect, and purpose. To all the fans who have been part of this incredible journey, thank you for the memories, the energy, and the respect. This is not goodbye, it's 'until we meet again'.", wrote the sports legend.

 

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A post shared by Rico Verhoeven (@ricoverhoeven)