Uros Medic was put in a position to become a breakout fighter in the UFC, and he delivered in a big way with a blistering, 30-second knockout of Daniel Rodriguez in the main event of UFC Belgrade. The Serbian competitor sent his hometown crowd happy before turning his attention to former champion Leon Edwards as a potential next opponent. Is that the matchup to make for Medic?

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Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem is reportedly set to face former GLORY superstar Rico Verhoeven later this year.

Kickboxing legends Alistair Overeem and Rico Verhoeven were set to face off in GLORY Kickboxing in 2021, before a bout between them fell apart after Overeem suffered an injury. Five years later, talks of a matchup between the Dutch giants seem to be ramping up.

Verhoeven seemed destined for a potential rematch against boxing heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk after a closely contested fight earlier this year. After parting ways with GLORY, Verhoeven has attracted the attention of the UFC and several boxing promoters.

As for Overeem, he retired from combat sports after a no-contest against Badr Hari at Glory Collision 4. But Overeem has reignited comeback talks in recent months, especially after Verhoeven turned down an offer to fight in the UFC Octagon.

According to several reports, Overeem and Verhoeven are in ongoing negotiations to square off in a unique trilogy.

Alistair Overeem, Rico Verhoeven in talks for three-fight series

Black Book PR, Overeem's representation, recently teased a looming fight announcement. Boxing publication Boxing.Media recently reported that Verhoeven and Overeem are in talks to compete in a boxing match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.

A key part of the report states the two sides are also in talks to fight in Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing in separate bouts after their targeted boxing match. As of this writing, Overeem and Verhoeven haven't announced anything regarding a potential fight.

Overeem and Verhoeven are considered two of the most decorated kickboxers of all-time. Verhoeven holds a 66-10 kickboxing record with 21 knockouts.

Before making the full-time move to Mixed Martial Arts, Overeem made a name for himself in K-1, earning wins over the likes of Tyron Spong and Gokhan Saki. He parted ways with the UFC after a loss to Alexander Volkov in February 2021.

Are you surprised by Alistair Overeem's comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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ONE Championship

Nico Carrillo has been elevated from interim titleholder to undisputed ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion after Tawanchai PK Saenchai officially vacated the title to continue rehabbing a serious leg injury. Carrillo now returns to action against Chinese newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang in a kickboxing bout at ONE Fight Night 46 on Friday, August 14. The fight broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Prime Video from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium.

Tawanchai claimed the crown at ONE 161 in 2022, edging out Petchmorakot in a five-round war. His reign included statement wins over Jamal Yusupov and two victories over Superbon. That built a 10-3 record as one of the division's most dominant champions.

Carrillo earned his own opportunity the hard way. He carried a 29-4 record into his interim title shot before outworking Shadow Mavinn across five rounds at ONE Fight Night 40 in February to capture the belt.

“It's about time,†Carrillo said. “Tawanchai broke his leg a couple of months before Shadow, and I fought for the interim belt, which, in my opinion, should have been made for the undisputed belt anyway.

“Honestly, for me, I became undisputed that night when I defeated Shadow.â€

Nico Carrillo targets a lasting legacy

Stepping into a new discipline immediately after inheriting undisputed gold is a bold call, but it fits a fighter who has built his career on seeking out the toughest available tests. Carrillo has scored knockouts in six of his seven promotional victories, including a finish of former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama.

A win over Zhou would put Nico Carrillo on course to chase two-sport World Champion status, adding kickboxing hardware to a featherweight Muay Thai throne he now holds outright. He has already outlined an ambitious title-defense calendar for the months beyond August.

“First things first, when I get this kickboxing fight out the way, I want to defend my belt in November,†he said. “Then, hopefully defend my belt in February or March next year, too. Maybe I'll even eye an MMA debut in April or May next year.â€

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