Rico Verhoeven Signs a New Contract& Enters the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix

GLORY can officially announce that “The King of Kickboxing” Rico Verhoeven (60-10, 20 KOs) has signed a new three-year contract. This not only allows him to fight a few more matches in the ring, but also engages him with the brand outside of the ring, which will see him do more matches.

In addition, Rico Verhoeven has confirmed that he will compete in the one-night-only GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix, an eight-man event, to be held at the Gelredome in Arnhem, Netherlands, on Saturday, March 9th.

The heavyweight champions are previously qualified Tariq Osaro (25-3-1, 13 KOs), Levi Riggtels (15-1, 7 KOs), and Uku Djurgendal (20-8, 16 KOs). ), joins a field that includes Baharam Rajabzadeh (65 wins). Sofian Raidouni (35 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 17 KOs) and Antonio Plagibat (22 wins, 6 losses, 16 KOs), whose wild card entries were confirmed yesterday.

The final contestants will be decided tonight, December 23rd at GLORY 90, and will feature Moroccan great Nabil Khachab (26-4-1, 4 KOs) and Serbian Nikola Filipovic (11-2, 6 KOs). It will be a battle.

“As someone who’s been part of the GLORY family since 2012, I can honestly say that I’ve never felt more motivated and excited,” Rico Verhoeven stated. “What truly inspires and drives me is the combination of facing challenges in the ring and my role in growing the brand and combat sports in general outside of it. GLORY’s new direction for 2024 is a real game-changer. If you’re a fan of combat sports, GLORY is the place to be for non-stop action and entertainment. I put my money where my mouth is by going up against seven other top heavyweights to claim victory in the Heavyweight Grand Prix on March 9!”

“Rico has dominated the heavyweight division in kickboxing for the last 10 years, a feat that no other fighter managed to achieve in other combat sports,” said Pierre Andurand, GLORY co-founder and Chairman. “He is a great champion inside and outside the ring, and I am glad that he decided to fight in GLORY for at least the next three years. Going back to the eight-man tournament format and having Rico competing in the Grand Prix on March 8 is very exciting. Tournaments are more unpredictable and are a test of the fighting spirit. They guarantee more action, more emotions, and more drama. New stars will arise. I hope the fans are as excited as me about what is to come in 2024 and beyond in the sport of kickboxing.”

“Next year will be an historic year for GLORY and with our new strategy in place, Rico will be an important driver for our future success,” said Maurice Hols, GLORY Executive Director. “I am thrilled to see him enter the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix and extend his contract for multiple more years. Having his involvement with the GLORY brand outside of the ring will also play an important role in what will be a massive period of growth & evolution of the GLORY product for fans.”

This news follows major structural changes to the 2024 GLORY calendar, with exciting Grand Prix events in heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight and lightweight, superfights, bigger and more international events, and an enhanced fan and spectator experience.


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