Rico Verhoeven recently opened up about vacating the GLORY Kickboxing heavyweight title he has held for more than a decade.
After being champion for more than 4,100 days, Verhoeven announced Instagram that he had relinquished the title he won in 2013.
“After more than twelve years, fifteen world title victories and countless unforgettable nights, I have decided to vacate my GLORY Heavyweight world title,” Verhoeven wrote.
“I joined GLORY in 2012 and from that moment on I gave everything to this sport and to the organization. Together we built something very special, selling out arenas, breaking records, giving fans incredible fights and moments that helped shape the history of kickboxing.
“I would like to give special recognition 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 invisible, but it is their passion that keeps this sport alive and growing. I see you, and I have told many of you personally how much I appreciate the way you continue to pursue kickboxing with heart, respect and purpose.
“A special thank you to Pierre Andurand for his vision and the enormous investment he has made in kickboxing over the years. Without that commitment none of this would have been possible.
“To all the fans who have been part of this incredible journey… Thank you for the memories, the energy and the respect.”
The 36-year-old Verhoeven shed no light on what his next step is and signed off with a cryptic sentence: “It’s not a goodbye, it’s a ‘until we meet again.'”
Rico Verhoeven could be MMA-bound after GLORY Exit
While GLORY’s all-time leader in both wins and title defenses didn’t offer any insight into what comes next, renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that Verhoeven has already been in talks with the UFC about a possible jump from kickboxing to mixed martial arts.
“He has not yet decided what his next step will be after vacating the GLORY heavyweight title, I am told,” Helwani wrote.
Considered by many to be one of the greatest kickboxers of all time, Verhoeven has an impressive record of 60-10, with 20 career KOs and 13 successful title defenses. He recently defended his title at GLORY 100 in June, dominating Artem Vakhitov and earning a unanimous decision victory.
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