Francis Ngannou Adds GLORY Champ Rico Verhoeven as Sparring Partner
Verhoeven and Ngannou (right)(image via Eric Nicksick/Instagram)
By FCF Staff
Francis Ngannou is preparing to battle Ciyrl Gane in January, and that includes sparring with one of the planet’s best heavyweight strikers, Rico Verhoeven.
The heavyweight champ is set to face Gane at UFC 270, January 22, in what will be Ngannou’s first title defense. Gane (10-0) has worked his way into a title shot by going 7-0 to date in the Octagon.
Recently Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick from Xtreme Couture, confirmed Verhoeven has been brought in as a sparring partner.
Nicksick told MMA Junkie that the plan is to have Verhoeven train with Ngannou for a week, and possibly more. Ngannou (16-3) hasn’t fought since March 2021, when he knocked Stipe Miocic out in the second round to win the heavyweight title.
The GLORY heavyweight champ Verhoeven, meanwhile, is coming off a thrilling TKO win over Jamal Ben Saddik in October. The kickboxing star hasn’t lost a fight since 2015.
