Brain scans, blood tests, health checks ... can ‘Bigfoot’ Silva survive Verhoeven test?
Former UFC star undergoes a battery of tests to make sure he’s fit to take on the best pound-for-pound kick-boxer in the world today in Guangzhou
Deemed “inexplicable”, “crazy” and “dangerous” in the lead-up, combat sports fans will finally witness the outcome of former UFC star Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva’s kick-boxing debut against current Glory heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven in Guangzhou Gymnasium on Saturday night.
The pair will headline Glory 46 Superfight Series – a stand-alone show preceding the Glory 46 Guangzhou China tournament – in what is the organisation’s first-ever show in China.
“It’s going to be very controversial, but it’s going to be exciting,” Glory co-founder Scott Rudmann told the Post.
Verhoeven (51-10) has held the Glory title for three years, winning thirteen fights on the trot. To say 28-year-old Dutchman is the heavy favourite would be an understatement, but similar to McGregor v Mayweather, no one truly knows until they step in the ring.
“Everybody thinks it’s a bad match-up. I keep hearing ‘[Silva] is going to get his arse kicked by Verhoeven’ – and maybe he will – but Bigfoot definitely has a chance,” Rudmann said.