JRE MMA Show #183: Rico Verhoeven on Usyk, Broken Judging & a Bigger Rematch

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
When elite striking meets heavyweight boxing politics, the result can look less like sport and more like a dispute over reality. Today, we're breaking down Joe Rogan's conversation with Rico Verhoeven about that controversial boxing match with Oleksandr Usyk.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:18)
And what a conversation it was. Rogan called the match up one of the craziest things he's ever seen. And honestly, Verhoeven didn't disagree.
The stoppage, the scoring, everything felt wrong to him. He even said if it went to the scorecards and he lost that decision, it would have been a crime.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:38)
The appeal confirmed some problems, but the result never changed. That's gotta be frustrating. And it led them into a really interesting discussion about judging.
Rogan made a compelling argument that three judges just aren't enough.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:53)
Right, he pointed to Glory's five judge system as a better model.
Verhoeven totally agreed and brought up video review in soccer as proof that modern sports need better transparency. But here's what got me. He said something pretty damning. I don't want to think it's corruption, but it's almost worse if it's incompetence.

**SPEAKER_1** (1:12)
That's a powerful statement.
So what about the rematch? Rogan called it the ultimate rocky story and said it would be massive. Does Verhoeven want it?

**SPEAKER_2** (1:23)
Absolutely. He calls it unfinished business. And it's not just about revenge. He sees it as the correct next step after such a close and controversial result.
But the backstory of how the fight even came together is fascinating.

**SPEAKER_1** (1:40)
Walk us through that. How did a kickboxing champion end up facing the undisputed boxing heavyweight champion?

**SPEAKER_2** (1:48)
It started around the Canelo Crawford period. Jason Statham actually pushed Verhoeven's name into the conversation.
Initially, he was lined up for Anthony Joshua, but things shifted. Eventually, Verhoeven and his team pitched the idea themselves. Undisputed kickboxing champion versus undisputed boxing champion.

**SPEAKER_1** (2:09)
The adaptation aspect is really interesting too.
Boxing essentially forced him to remove one of his biggest weapons, the low kick, and completely rewire his stance. That's not just about training harder. That's months of technical changes.

**SPEAKER_2** (2:25)
Exactly. And Rogan praised his cardio, noting that people underestimated how long a 260-pound fighter could maintain that pace. Verhoeven's response was revealing, I'm never going to lose on cardio, because then I lose to myself.
They also went deep on recovery and longevity. Verhoeven's been through ACL surgery, meniscus tears, he's using peptides, stem cells, hyperbaric chambers, cold plunges, sauna work. He emphasized that discipline matters, but momentum does too.

**SPEAKER_1** (3:01)
What struck me was how he connected staying in shape to mental health, not just physical performance. He opened up about acting, grief, and the pressure of always being the best. Movies like Road House and Den of Thieves 2 have given him a healthier outlet, especially after losing his parents. That's a side you don't often see from elite fighters, learning to process emotion instead of burying it under training.
The final part of their conversation widened the lens to the sport itself.

**SPEAKER_2** (3:35)
They discussed how kickboxing still lacks mainstream attention in America, how global promoters are changing their way of boxing, and why fighters need better pay and more options.
Through it all, one thing was clear. Verhoeven is still chasing big fights. And after everything with Usyk, he believes the next chapter should be even bigger.