Rico Verhoeven: I could've made millions in MMA - but I'm happy where I'm at right now
Rico Verhoeven discusses a switch to mixed martial arts in an exclusive interview
Glory heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven has revealed that he considered pursuing a career in mixed martial arts before deciding to stick to kickboxing.
Verhoeven, 34, started learning martial arts at the age of five, and is managed by Conor McGregor’s agent Audie Attar.
That, in turn, opened up the door to him potentially signing with the UFC one day.
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But Verhoeven, who won his professional MMA debut in 2015, stuck with kickboxing instead - and hasn’t looked back since.
“There were conversations,” Verhoeven exclusively told MMA Insider.
“It looked like it was going to happen at one point but it didn’t. But hey, you know, that’s life. Sometimes things happen the way they do.
“I’m happy with where I’m at right now. If you really want to be the best at something you’ve got to put everything into it. I think that’s the case with me in MMA.”
Former foe Badr Hari suffered another setback after being knocked out by Uku Jurjendal in his latest fight.
Verhoeven believes that Hari, his great rival, should pack it all in before he gets badly injured.
“That was a tough one,” he said.
“What can I say? I saw some things in that fight that made me the question the whole team. He didn’t look comfortable at the weight.
“Like, why did he come in so heavy? I think he came in heavier than he normally does. He looked okay but I think his body was out of balance.
“It just didn’t work out for him the way I think he hoped it would’ve worked out for him but it is what it is.”