GLORY Kickboxing has booked a massive heavyweight showdown with Rico Verhoeven vs. Alistair Overeem. This fight is tapped to take place on October 23, 2021, in Arnhem, Netherlands. It will be a bout under kickboxing rules.
The press conference went down this week where both men took subtle jabs at the other, compared each other to cars, and showed respect for what each other had accomplished in their careers, now it’s onto the fight between Rico Verhoeven and Alistair Overeem on October 23rd after the press conference.
The press event that took place in the Netherlands, both men’s home countries, went way more swimmingly than the Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant presser and gave everyone a look into what the fight could look like next month. Both men delivered well-articulated and concise comments to and about each other and that may be how the fight plays out as well come October.
The Press Conference
Alistair Overeem talked about missing out on winning a UFC title during his tenure with the company which led me to ask him where a Glory Kickboxing title would rank for him in his career accomplishments and he had this to say:
“It’s right up there with my other belts and we still have some work to do as well. I am proud of all my belts I’ve earned so that will not change with this, it will be exactly the same.”
Both men talked about reaching new fans and expanding the importance of kickboxing as a sport as well as each other’s brands. MMASucka asked Overeem if he is excited to introduce MMA fans to kickboxing potentially and he gave a fun answer:
“We definitely will be bringing fans from all over the world, I have fans all over the world, I have a big fanbase in Japan…anywhere I go people come up to me. So we are hoping to attract all those types of fans.”
A question we were really eager to discuss with Rico Verhoeven was where he stood on the career of Alistair Overeem. Overeem previously in the press conference credited Verhoeven with saving the support and being the face it needs in the Netherlands, when aksed about Overeem’s career he was quick to return the compliment:
“Of course, most definitely, I think he set his mark on combat sports in general because what he has done no one else has in the history of combat sports. Just like going from MMA to kickboxing and becoming a champion before going back.”
Rico Verhoeven quickly acknowledged Alistair Overeem’s UFC career specifically detailing the length while also taking one last jab at his age in a way:
“He put on amazing performances in the UFC…he’s been there for over a decade and that’s a long time to be in one organization with the high-level competitors they have…we all know how the UFC works with their athletes, if you lose a couple they throw you out. Alistair always brought that excitement and I hope he brings that on October 23rd…”
Both men are itching to get into the ring on October 23rd. It will be a matchup of legends that neither kickboxing nor MMA has seen to date and with it being in a stadium with fans again in Europe the crowd will be behind both men.
Stay glued to MMASucka for continued coverage of the event!
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