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Always loved the giant Semmy are true warrior from my part of town lol..

I remember Semmy from his K1 and PRIDE days. There was nothing like watching PRIDE back in the day, you just knew it was going to be lit! We even had our old lady’s watching back then

World Champion Rico Verhoeven's big money fight outside Glory - This is what it brings!
by Ron Emmerink 04/03/2025 06:48 Last updated today, 02:20
Rico Verhoeven's big money fight outside Glory - This is what it brings!

The crossover deal Conor McGregor made to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017 was historic on more than one front. This wasn’t just any fighter making the switch to boxing — it was one of the biggest money fights in history.


It brought in a combined $400 million for McGregor and Mayweather. And the UFC, where the Irishman was under contract, earned some of it. But how would that fare in kickboxing?

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Suppose Glory Kickboxing makes a similar crossover deal with Rico Verhoeven , that could be a huge game changer for kickboxing as a sport and for Glory as an organization. Rico has indicated that he wants to fight twice this year. Inside and outside Glory.

Let's break down the scenario in full — what such a deal might look like, what the benefits (and risks) would be, and how it compares to what the UFC did with McGregor.

???? Why This Is Gold For Glory
? Direct exposure to the US market (where kickboxing is still niche)

? Rico becomes a global crossover star (a la McGregor)

? New sponsorship and media deals possible

? Positioning Glory as the "Champions League of standing fighting"

? By collaborating with PFL they are building a bridge to the MMA world

???? What could the deal look like?
1. Exclusive Glory contract
Rico Verhoeven, like McGregor, is tied to an exclusive contract with Glory Kickboxing. This means that he is normally only allowed to fight for Glory, within their rules and their ring.

If Rico wants to fight outside of Glory, for example in a boxing match against Francis Ngannou (or even in MMA), Glory must give permission.

2. Revenue Split
Glory, like the UFC with McGregor, would demand a piece of the pie. For example:

A percentage of Rico's fight purse.
A percentage of pay-per-view revenue.
Perhaps even a fee for "licensing" their champion, with Glory being mentioned on the fight poster and in the promotion.
Glory could also push for the fight to be partly co-produced by them (for example, Glory commentators or promoters getting a role in the build-up).
Rico Verhoeven's big money fight outside Glory - This is what it brings!
Conor McGregor
???? What could Glory gain from this?
1. Financial windfall
Glory can cash in on their biggest star this way, without having to organize an event themselves. Especially when it's against someone like Ngannou, it attracts a worldwide audience.

If they take 10-20% of the total proceeds, that could quickly add up to millions.

2. Exposure outside the kick bubble
Glory is still a niche player worldwide compared to the UFC or boxing. A crossover fight like this — especially with Ngannou, who has a huge name in MMA and boxing — immediately brings Glory into the picture with a whole new audience.

3. Positioning Rico as a world star
Rico is of course big in the Netherlands and the kickboxing world, but he lacks that real global superstar status that McGregor got. A crossover with Ngannou (or another big name) could give him that — and if he wins, he could really put himself on the map as the "baddest man on the planet" in standup fighting.

???? Extra benefits for Glory
Sponsors and deals: Large parties that normally do not look at Glory may suddenly be interested in becoming a partner.
Legitimacy as a top sport: Especially in the US, kickboxing is often seen as a kind of second-rate sport next to MMA and boxing. If their champ proves himself on a world level, the whole sport gets more respect.
PPV and streaming boost: If Glory is smart, they will link this fight to their own event (for example Rico vs. Ngannou is the main event, and a few Glory fights before that), which will also increase their own PPV sales.
?? Risks
Rico loses hard: If he goes down completely, it could damage his status and therefore that of Glory. Especially if he gets blown away by a boxer or MMA'er in a discipline that Rico has less experience in.
Bargaining Power: If Rico proves himself as a global superstar with such a deal, he could demand a lot more money in the next Glory deal. Or worse: he could decide to make the switch to boxing or MMA full-time.
Glory's Loss of Control: If the fight happens outside of Glory (for example under the banner of PFL, ONE or a boxing promoter like Matchroom), Glory has little influence over how their champion is presented.
???? Why Ngannou is the perfect opponent
Ngannou's crossover status: He already fights between MMA and boxing, so an additional foray into kickboxing fits perfectly.
Brute physical strength vs. technical master: Rico is the technician, Ngannou the KO machine. That story sells itself.
Respect for standing fights: Ngannou has often stated that he values ??his roots in standing fights. It adds an extra layer to the promotion.
???? McGregor 2.0, but in kickboxing?
If Glory plays it smart, this could be their “McGregor moment”:

Mega fight with global attention.
New sponsors.
Growing their brand and platform.
Huge push for Rico's star status.
But — just like the UFC — it’s a balancing act between short-term cash and long-term control of your champion and your product. It also depends on how well Rico (and Glory) can negotiate and how the fight plays out.

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