As most expected, GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven (52-10-1) dismantled Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the main event of the GLORY 46 Superfight Series on Saturday in Guangzhou, China.
Verhoeven, 28, defeated the former UFC heavyweight who was making his kickboxing debut, by TKO at the 0:47 mark in the second round of the scheduled three-round non-title contest.
“The King of Kickboxing” softened up the Brazilian with a steady diet of low kicks throughout the first round, which set up a right high kick in round two that sent Silva to the canvas. After Silva returned to his feet, Verhoeven connected with a flurry of big punches and the bout was soon waved off by referee Onari Atsushi.
“It was part of the plan, hurt him in the legs and try to finish it on top,” Verhoeven told Whitney Miller after yelling out “Nin hao” to address the crowd inside the Guangzhou Gymnasium.
WOW! @RicoVerhoeven gets the TKO in the 2nd round against Bigfoot Silva after the referee steps in. #GLORY46 @GLORY_WS #UFCFIGHTPASS pic.twitter.com/2SORQbUM9H
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) October 14, 2017
Next up for the champion will be a title defense against No.4-ranked contender Jamal Ben Saddik in the main event of GLORY: Redemption on December 9 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was announced on Saturday, the PPV card will stream live on UFC.TV for $29.99.
“The Redemption match is going to be fireworks. So, make sure you are tuned in the ninth of December, Ahoy Rotterdam, I’m going to beat Jamal Ben Saddik. I’m coming for you baby,” said the champion before telling his oldest daughter Mikayla–who was watching him fight for the very first time–he loved her.
GLORY 46 Superfight Series results
Middleweight: Wei Zhou def via Andre Walker via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Catchweight (75kg): Alan Scheinson def Shangai Gao via majority decision (27-29, 30-26, 28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Professional Sanda (60kg): Hongxing Kong def Yang Sun via KO RD1 0:35
Women’s catchweight (57kg): Zaza Sor Aree vs. Jia Liu ruled a no contest RD2 (cut on Liu’s head from illegal/accidental elbow from Aree)
Catchweight (68kg) Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao def Lei Xie via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight: Pascal Schroth def Quinhao Meng via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
