Alistair Overeem issues brutal Francis Ngannou warning to Rico Verhoeven
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Rico Verhoeven is one of kickboxing’s defining heavyweights, a long reigning GLORY champion whose dominance made him known as the King of Kickboxing. His next move, however, is in boxing, with Verhoeven choosing a major crossover fight against Oleksandr Usyk instead of entering MMA. Alistair Overeem believes that path may have spared him a dangerous test, with Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis discussed as options.
Alistair Overeem warns Rico Verhoeven about Francis Ngannou gamble Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images Overeem appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show last Wednesday night and assessed Verhoeven’s decision to pick boxing over possible MMA opportunities. The former UFC heavyweight contender said: “I think against Francis he would not make much of a chance, just basically because he’s missing the wrestling and the submissions; he’s just not training that right. And it takes years to develop that and it shouldn’t be underestimated.
“And I think that he and his team have made a very wise choice to stay out of MMA, because you’re just not going to catch up with years of experience just like that in a training camp. “And Derrick Lewis would be an interesting fight. At the moment, the heavyweight division might be somewhat on the weaker side, but still, you’re tied up in the UFC and it wouldn’t give him the flexibility.
I think, given Rico’s resume, boxing was his best choice. ” Francis Ngannou underlines danger after Rico Verhoeven talks fade Ngannou had previously welcomed the idea of facing Verhoeven on Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA card, making clear he was excited by a possible fight before the Dutchman chose boxing. That route disappeared, and Ngannou instead fought Philipe Lins last Saturday, brutally knocking him out, a reminder of his heavyweight threat.
The result strengthened Overeem’s point, making it clear his warning was not an insult to Verhoeven. It was a reminder that MMA punishes incomplete skill sets faster than reputation can protect them. Read more: Sean Strickland appears to rethink Donald Trump support after key Republican primary result Dana White found the real UFC Freedom 250 problem months before fight night Dana White admits bug issues at UFC’s White House event could be hard to solve