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Francis Ngannou’s path after leaving the UFC has been a whirlwind of success, making waves in both MMA and boxing. His latest victory, a devastating first-round knockout against Renan Ferreira at PFL’s "Battle of the Giants" in Saudi Arabia, only added to his already iconic status.
Following two high-profile boxing bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Ngannou is now one of the most sought-after athletes in combat sports. But what's next for “The Predator”? One intriguing possibility could be a crossover showdown with Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion, Rico Verhoeven.
Verhoeven, a kickboxing legend in his own right, has expressed interest in a potential fight with Ngannou. In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Verhoeven stated,
“I’ve been thinking about a crossover for quite some time now, so I love the idea.” He went on to say, “It’s a new challenge. Not that I’m done with challenges within Glory, but I’ve got an amazing win streak and title defense streak. I’m open to new challenges. When we’re talking about the baddest on the planet, let’s find out who it is.”
Verhoeven, known for his remarkable dominance in kickboxing, boasts a 20-fight winning streak stretching back to 2015 and 11 successful defenses of his Glory heavyweight title. His next challenge will come in December, as he is set to face Levi Rigters in a rematch. Should Verhoeven continue his reign, a clash with Ngannou would present an electrifying next step in his career.
The potential bout between Ngannou and Verhoeven could take many forms. While MMA or kickboxing are obvious options, Verhoeven suggested an intriguing twist—a series of "home and away" fights.
“It could be a kickboxing and an MMA fight,” Verhoeven mused. “Most likely ends up maybe 1-1. But a boxing match, that’s interesting... I’ve been training with [Tyson Fury’s uncle] Peter Fury for years... let any top-level boxer challenge you and let’s show what we got.”
Though both fighters have trained together in the past, the possibility of meeting in competition excites fans. Ngannou, when asked about the idea, responded with a smile and said, “Send me the deal.”
Verhoeven sees this fight as a must-see for combat sports fans.
“What I would like to say to [PFL] is just, hey, when we’re talking about the baddest on the planet and crossover fights: This thing must happen,” he stated passionately. “It has to happen because we’ve seen some crazy fights in recent years, and I think this one needs to be added to the list.”
This potential matchup between Ngannou and Verhoeven, two titans of their respective sports, would not only be a thrilling spectacle but also an iconic moment in the history of crossover combat sports.
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