Joe Rogan speaks with Dutch kickboxing heavyweight Rico Verhoeven about Verhoeven’s recent boxing title fight with Oleksandr Usyk and the controversy around the stoppage and scoring. Verhoeven says he appealed the result, claiming officials agreed with several points raised — including that action continued after the bell and that post-stoppage medical checks did not show concussion symptoms — but that the bout was not overturned. Rogan argues the officiating was either incompetent or corrupt, and repeatedly suggests the commercial incentive was to protect Usyk as the bigger draw.
Verhoeven outlines how the bout came together, how he and trainer Peter Fury approached the southpaw matchup, and why he believes heavyweight boxers have struggled by trying to “outbox” a smaller, faster opponent. He says he is now a free agent, fielding offers and prioritising “big fights that make sense”, while continuing to push for a Usyk rematch.
The conversation also touches on crossover economics: Verhoeven says returning to the UFC is unlikely on financial grounds, and describes being approached about an MMA fight with Francis Ngannou shortly before closing the Usyk deal. Away from matchmaking, Verhoeven discusses the death of his mother during camp, his tendency to convert grief into training “fuel”, and his attempt to develop healthier coping as he nears the end of his fighting career and builds an acting career (including roles in the Den of Thieves sequel and Road House).
Verhoeven says he is currently a free agent after his boxing appearance against Usyk. He claims multiple major organisations have approached him with potential fights, though he declines to name them on the show.
Read this moment →Discussing earlier talks about a UFC fight, Verhoeven says the economics now make a return unlikely, suggesting the pay gap has only widened since his boxing bout. Rogan agrees that the UFC’s pay structure is different and that boxing is more logical for him at this stage.
Read this moment →Verhoeven says he was approached about an MMA bout against Francis Ngannou shortly before finalising the Usyk fight. He describes weighing two options at once and choosing Usyk on “legacy” grounds, saying the Ngannou fight could still be available later.
Read this moment →Joe Rogan argues the late stoppage in Oleksandr Usyk’s fight against Rico Verhoeven would not have been called the same way if the roles were reversed. He says he suspects corruption — specifically, decision-making influenced by the commercial interests around Usyk — rather than mere officiating incompetence.
Read this moment →