Rico Verhoeven has indicated that a move to the UFC remains unlikely, telling Joe Rogan that the financial gap between what the promotion is offering and what he expects has only widened since his boxing clash against Oleksandr Usyk. The kickboxing legend dominated Usyk for much of their heavyweight bout before the fight was controversially stopped in round 11, raising his market value considerably. Verhoeven noted that a previously offered UFC fight against Derrick Lewis did not make financial sense, and his position has not softened since. A potential rematch with Usyk also appears to have stalled, leaving the free-agent Verhoeven weighing options from multiple promotions.
Rico Verhoeven has made clear that a crossover to the UFC is no closer to happening — and may be further away than ever. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, the kickboxing superstar said the financial gap between what the promotion has offered and what he demands has only grown wider following his high-profile boxing bout against Oleksandr Usyk.
Verhoeven, 37, is the dominant force in heavyweight kickboxing, carrying a 66-10-0 record and a reputation that has made him one of the most recognizable combat sports figures outside the UFC. The Dutch fighter, who stands six-foot-five and carries a 79-inch reach, has long been courted by the promotion but has never found terms acceptable enough to make a deal work.
His market value appears to have risen sharply after the Usyk fight, which Verhoeven dominated for much of the contest before a controversial stoppage in round 11. Usyk, the undefeated 39-year-old Ukrainian southpaw, entered with a 24-0-0 boxing record, and the performance Verhoeven put on against him strengthened his negotiating position considerably.
Verhoeven specifically referenced a previously discussed UFC matchup against Derrick Lewis — the 41-year-old American heavyweight ranked thirteenth in the division — saying the fight simply did not make financial sense for him. His stance on that front has not changed.
With a potential Usyk rematch also reported to have stalled, Verhoeven finds himself a free agent weighing interest from multiple promotions. No deal with any organization appears imminent.
Why it matters
- Verhoeven's post-Usyk leverage makes him a more expensive acquisition than ever for the UFC
- A fight against Lewis, a ranked heavyweight, would have served as a credible MMA debut but failed to clear the financial bar
- The stalled Usyk rematch leaves Verhoeven's next move genuinely open, with several promotions potentially in the picture
