What happened in this episode?
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).
