Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven’s journey through Hollywood has led to some remarkable encounters, including a memorable meeting with action star Jason Statham that showcased the actor’s genuine appreciation for martial arts.
Jason Statham is not only an on-screen tough guy but also a purple belt in BJJ. Statham trains under the Renzo Gracie flag and has supplemented his BJJ training with Wing Chun, karate, and kickboxing.
Statham frequently collaborates with director Guy Ritchie who holds a BJJ Black belt.
Guy Ritchie has been an avid practitioner of BJJ since the early 2000s. With an impressive black belt earned from Renzo Gracie in 2015, Ritchie has also achieved black belts in Shotokan and Judo.
The chance meeting occurred during what would become one of the most significant trips in Verhoeven’s career. The kickboxing legend was in London to interview Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for a Dutch TV show, which had arranged the meeting knowing their natural chemistry would lead to compelling content.
Through his connections with Los Angeles-based stunt studio 87eleven, Verhoeven received an unexpected invitation to visit Statham, who was filming at a location outside London. Despite the considerable 90-minute drive from central London, Verhoeven made the journey, leading to an encounter that would evolve into a lasting friendship.
Statham’s reaction upon meeting the kickboxing champion was one of genuine excitement. As Verhoeven recalled in an interview with BE, “I was there just waiting, he was working of course and [he said] ‘I can’t believe you’re here! Oh my, so nice to meet you.'”
“It’s funny how things just sometimes just the world just comes together and everything plays out really well,” Verhoeven noted about the serendipitous meeting.
The encounter with Statham is just one chapter in Verhoeven’s successful transition into the entertainment industry. His acting portfolio includes a notable role in “Kickboxer: Retaliation” alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, with whom he maintains regular contact. Van Damme has become something of a mentor figure to Verhoeven, offering valuable guidance on transitioning from martial arts to acting.
Since then, Verhoeven’s acting career has continued to flourish, landing a leading role in “Black Lotus” and appearing in “Den Penta” with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. The kickboxing champion describes acting as his “new passion,” while maintaining his status as one of kickboxing’s greatest champions.
Most recently, Verhoeven has been making headlines in the combat sports world, confirming discussions about a potential crossover bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. “The talks have been there,” Verhoeven revealed, though he emphasized that any further negotiations would have to wait until after his upcoming bout at Glory Collision 7.
When discussing the possible ruleset for such a contest, Verhoeven suggested boxing might be the most logical choice. “Probably boxing because then I go out of my world, he goes out of his world, and then we bring it together,” he explained, noting that kickboxing would favor him while MMA would advantage Ngannou. He even proposed the idea of a two-bout deal, saying “Maybe a real crossover – he comes to kickbox, I go to MMA.”
