Verhoeven Honors Commitment to Usyk Fight Despite Lucrative Ngannou MMA Offer

Rico Verhoeven has revealed he rejected a lucrative mixed martial arts opportunity against Francis Ngannou, choosing instead to honor his verbal commitment to face undisputed boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC Heavyweight Championship at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23.

The Dutch kickboxing legend, who left GLORY Kickboxing in 2025 as the undefeated heavyweight champion, explained his decision during an appearance on Chael Sonnen's "Smash Cast," emphasizing that personal integrity outweighed financial considerations.

"My word is my everything," Verhoeven declared when discussing the competing offers. "For me, that was the thing, like, I gave my word. There were multiple people that really put their necks out for me. So that's like Jason Statham, his excellency Turki Alalshikh, his right hand man Doctor Rakan [Al-Harty], and I was like this is what I got to do."

The rejected MMA bout would have represented a significant financial windfall for Verhoeven, who acknowledged that the Ngannou fight offered "an amazing amount of money." However, his prior verbal agreement with Saudi Arabian boxing executive Turki Alalshikh proved more valuable to him than the potential earnings.

Verhoeven's decision mirrors Francis Ngannou's own career path, as both champions departed their respective organizations while holding heavyweight titles. Ngannou left the UFC in 2023 as the reigning heavyweight champion, while Verhoeven concluded his GLORY Kickboxing tenure in similar fashion.

The parallels extend to their boxing ambitions, with both fighters targeting Usyk, the 24-0 lineal heavyweight champion who has achieved undisputed status across multiple weight classes. Ngannou previously challenged Usyk in a high-profile boxing match, while Verhoeven now pursues the same opportunity.

For Verhoeven, the Usyk fight represents just his second professional boxing bout, following his knockout victory debut in 2014. This dramatic leap from kickboxing to challenging one of boxing's elite champions demonstrates remarkable confidence in his striking abilities and adaptability.

The WBC heavyweight championship bout in Egypt promises to be one of the year's most intriguing sporting spectacles, combining Verhoeven's devastating kickboxing power with Usyk's technical boxing brilliance in an iconic setting at the Pyramids of Giza.

Meanwhile, Ngannou has secured his own high-profile opportunity, as he's scheduled to face Philipe Lins on the MVP MMA card headlined by Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano, streaming on Netflix on May 16. This marks Ngannou's return to MMA competition following his victory over Renan Ferreira for the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship in 2024.

Verhoeven's MMA experience remains limited to a single first-round knockout victory over Viktor Bogutzski in 2015, making his decision to prioritize boxing over mixed martial arts somewhat surprising given the potential for crossover success.

The involvement of Jason Statham and other high-profile figures in facilitating the Usyk fight underscores the international attention surrounding this matchup. Alalshikh's reputation for organizing spectacular boxing events in Saudi Arabia adds further prestige to the encounter.

Verhoeven's emphasis on honoring verbal commitments reflects old-school values often overlooked in modern combat sports, where athletes frequently chase the biggest paydays regardless of prior agreements or relationships.

The rejected Ngannou fight would have created compelling storylines, pitting two former organizational champions against each other in unfamiliar territory. However, Verhoeven's decision to maintain his word demonstrates that some fighters still prioritize integrity over immediate financial gain.

As May 23 approaches, Verhoeven faces the challenge of transitioning his elite-level kickboxing skills to pure boxing against arguably the sport's most technically proficient heavyweight. Success could establish him as a legitimate crossover star, while failure might close the door on future high-profile boxing opportunities.

Regardless of the outcome, Verhoeven's decision to honor his commitment despite more lucrative alternatives sets an admirable example in professional combat sports, where verbal agreements often carry less weight than written contracts and guaranteed payouts.