Romanian promotion Real Extreme Fighting hosted the most significant headliner in ts twenty-event history, as Glory heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven made his MMA debut last weekend under the RXF banner.
Verhoeven is the veteran of ten-plus years on the kickboxing scene, during which time he’s bested Sergei Kharitonov, Peter Aerts, and Errol Zimmerman. In 2013, Verhoeven claimed decision victories over Gokhan Saki and Daniel Ghita to win Glory’s heavyweight tournament, and a rematch with Ghita the following year formally commenced Verhoeven’s reign as the Glory heavyweight champion. With such a pedigree, it should come as little surprise that “The Prince of Kickboxing” excelled in his mixed martial arts debut.
Verhoeven immediately began shelling opponent Viktor Bogutzki (0-2-0) with kicks to start Round 1, landing two to the lead leg before sending one flying up past the head. Bogutzki, to his credit, appeared undaunted, going so far as to back Verhoeven up against the fence behind a barrage of punches. Verhoeven’s precision counter-striking would, however, repeatedly force Bogutzki into retreat. With Bogutzki’s third attempt at a surge forward, Verhoeven took double underhooks and, after a brief struggle, tripped Bogutzki to the mat. He steadily advanced from half-guard to full mount, and a series of focused punches and elbows to the head soon forced the stoppage from referee Herb Dean.
Verhoeven, now 1-0-0 as a mixed martial artist, is set to defend his Glory heavyweight title against 22-3 Romanian kickboxer Benjamin Adegbuyi at Glory 26 in Amsterdam this December.