Who was Derrick Lewis supposed to fight instead of Waldo Cortes-Acosta?

Derrick Lewis was initially offered a fight against kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven by the UFC.

Did Rico Verhoeven accept the UFC fight offer from Derrick Lewis?

No, Rico Verhoeven reportedly turned down the proposed fight with Derrick Lewis.

When is Derrick Lewis's next fight?

Derrick Lewis is scheduled to fight Waldo Cortes-Acosta on the main card of UFC 324 next month.

Home / Sports / Lewis Reveals Failed Mega-Fight With Kickboxing Champ

Lewis Reveals Failed Mega-Fight With Kickboxing Champ

24 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Derrick Lewis was offered a fight with kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.
Rico Verhoeven reportedly turned down the proposed UFC bout.
Lewis will face Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324 next month.

Lewis Reveals Failed Mega-Fight With Kickboxing Champ

Derrick Lewis, a two-time UFC Heavyweight title challenger, is scheduled to fight Waldo Cortes-Acosta next month at UFC 324 in Las Vegas. However, Lewis disclosed on his podcast that this was not the originally intended "big" fight for him. He stated that the UFC had offered him a bout against the champion of GLORY Kickboxing, Rico Verhoeven.

According to Lewis, Verhoeven declined the fight, potentially due to a separate boxing opportunity. This revelation hints at the UFC's efforts to bring Verhoeven into the promotion, confidently matching him against a Top 10 veteran like Lewis, who holds the UFC record for most knockouts.

Lewis also mentioned attempting a rematch with Sergei Pavlovich, which was also declined. Ultimately, Cortes-Acosta accepted the fight, having sought a match with Lewis for over a year. Lewis is currently on a two-fight win streak, with his last victory being a 35-second knockout.

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