The Dutch kickboxer recovered from a gun-shy first round, a session in which Hari opened up a cut on his nose, to stop one of the most feared fighters of all time in the second stanza after the Moroccan failed to beat the count having suffered an arm injury.
The main event of GLORY Collision in Oberhausen, Germany was a hotly anticipated clash, billed as the new vs old school, with the former GLORY heavyweight champ meeting the current belt holder. But the injury, sustained after a knee in the clinch, left many wanting more.
And Verhoeven is more than happy to entertain a rematch to satisfy that appetite.
“This is not the way I wanted to win,” the 27-year-old said. “I gave him all my respect. We’re gonna do it again, man. Let’s do it. Not just for us, but you guys (fans) as well.”
Competing for the first time in over a year, the 32-year-old Hari proved he is still a danger to the very best kickboxers on the planet.
“I’m very disappointed in the outcome of the fight,” Hari said. “You know, I’ve had a lot of s*** in my life, but (my fans) always support me. I think nobody wanted the fight to end like this… so let’s do this again.”
Hari then turned to Verhoeven and said: “I gave you the credit, but next year, I swear, I will knock you the f*** out.”
The staredown at the weigh-ins prior to the fight was one of the most intense ever witnessed in the sport. When asked about the build-up to the dream fight, Verhoeven said: “It was no game. Some people think that, ‘hey this wasn’t real. They set it up.’ It was no set up. Unfortunately, the fight ended this way. It is what it is.”
