In just a few years, Alex Pereira successfully transitioned from GLORY kickboxer to one of the greatest UFC champions ever. Rico Verhoeven admits witnessing the career move has prompted thoughts of making the same switch.
Verhoeven, the current GLORY heavyweight champion, has admired UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira’s success in MMA, and wasn’t shocked to see it come to fruition.
“Definitely not surprised with Alex’s performances because he’s an amazing fighter,” Verhoeven told MMA Junkie. “He did amazing in GLORY, and he’s doing amazing now. Yeah, he’s a true athlete, a real hard worker. I love it. A nice guy, and a great champion.”
The “Prince of Kickboxing” understands there are more eyeballs on MMA than kickboxing and admits that seeing Pereira reach the pinnacle of the UFC in a short time has given him thoughts about switching sports.
“Of course when I see it, I’m like ‘Oh, man!'” Verhoeven said. “Maybe that would have been something for me, but I don’t know. I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason and you always need to be honest to yourself and you have to look in the mirror and see: Would it really be my ambition to be the very, very, very best MMA fighter? Probably not. Probably not, to be really honest.
“For me, that’s what works; being transparent and just look at yourself and just come up with the answer. Is the answer yes or is it no? Or is it a maybe? Probably if it’s a maybe, it’s more than a no than its a yes. So for me, I think the answer is a simple no.”
Verhoeven returns to action on Dec. 7 to take on Levin Rigters at GLORY COLLISION 7 on Dec. 7 in the Netherlands. It’s a rematch from their meeting in the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix, which took place earlier this year in March, which Verhoeven won by the four knockdown rule.
Should Verhoeven repeat his success, he’s looking forward to any and all challenges that lie ahead in 2025, including a potential meeting with PFL superfights champion Francis Ngannou in some form of martial arts.
However, Verhoeven reiterates he’s comfortable building a legacy in kickboxing, despite wondering what would have happened if he did move to MMA full time.
“I’ve been doing the sport of kickboxing for so long,” Verhoeven said. “We’ve been dominanting, and I just want to set the bar as high as possible for the next generation, and that’s what they can follow. And then for me, there’s so many other things that I want to do. I want to get into acting. I’m an entrepreneur. I’m a shareholder in a bunch of different companies. So, having fun with that – of course, I’m a father, family man. So many things to do.
“So, jumping into a fully different sport? I don’t know. It’s not really like my ambition, to be honest. If you really want to transition, it should be your ambition to be your very best, and if it’s not, why would you transition at all?”
