Rico Verhoeven and Tom Aspinall are putting in the work together, and it's not your average gym session. The GLORY kickboxing champ and the UFC interim heavyweight champ have been trading body shots, sparring, and picking each other's brains in the ring. Both men are at the top of their respective games, but there's no room for egos here - just a lot of sweat and a few bruised ribs.
Rico Verhoeven and Tom Aspinall didn't just stick to sparring and strategy in their latest training session, they introduced viewers to the "Iron Gut Challenge," a test that's as simple as it is painful. The rules are straightforward: each fighter takes turns absorbing body shots, starting at around 30-40% power and ramping up to a punishing 95%. "You punch me, I punch you," Verhoeven explained, with Aspinall looking both game and slightly wary about what he'd signed up for.
The challenge quickly escalated. "It's starting to get red, exactly the same spot," Aspinall noted as the punches landed, each round getting a little harder. By the time they hit 80% and 90%, the tension was real, with Aspinall admitting, "Getting a bit worried now, getting a little bit worried." Verhoeven offered some veteran advice: "When you're taking these punches, don't try to hold your breath, try to breathe out, that's the best."
Aspinall, ever the competitor, wanted to set the bar high as the first guest: "I want to start at the top, do you know what I mean?" After the final round, both men agreed the Iron Gut Challenge was "no joke," and the mutual respect was obvious. For Aspinall, it was another day sharpening his skills with the best.
Tom Aspinall, who's gunning for Jon Jones and the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown, isn't shy about the challenge that comes with training alongside Verhoeven. "Training with Rico for a long time now, I'm not here all the time, but when I do come, I feel like I've got a lot to learn, that's for sure," Aspinall said in a recent video. "Training with the champ, no joke. Sharpen the blades, sharpen the blades with the very, very, very best. The elite of the world is next level. It's hard, it's competitive, but we like it."
Rico Verhoeven is the reigning GLORY heavyweight world champion and a dominant force in the sport for over a decade. On June 14, at GLORY 100 in Rotterdam, Verhoeven will defend his title against Artem Vakhitov, a former two-time GLORY light heavyweight champion making his heavyweight debut. This headline bout is part of a mega event featuring four world title fights and several heavyweight tournaments, marking one of the most significant nights in kickboxing history.
On the MMA side, Tom Aspinall has quickly established himself as one of the UFC's most dangerous heavyweights, holding the interim UFC heavyweight title and a reputation for finishing fights in record time. Known for his speed and knockout power, Aspinall has ended most of his UFC wins in the first round, including a blistering knockout of Sergei Pavlovich to claim interim gold and a swift defense against Curtis Blaydes.
While Tom Aspinall waits for his shot at Jon Jones, Rico Verhoeven is busy prepping for his own big moment. his next fight at GLORY 100. Both men have their eyes on different prizes, but the mutual respect is clear. For now, it's back to the grind, a few more body shots, and maybe, just maybe, a little friendly trash talk between rounds.