Ex-WWE tag champ Gzim Selmani reveals why he cut viral BKFC post-fight promo — and it has to do with Rico Verhoeven

Gzim Selmani, the former WWE tag team champion, has explained the reasoning behind his expletive-laden post-fight interview following his BKFC debut, revealing deeper frustrations with how modern combat sports protect its top talents.

Selmani, known as "The Albanian Psycho," made a splash in bare-knuckle fighting by stopping Dan Curtin in the second round at BKFC Newcastle in March, but it was his uncensored victory promo that captured wider attention. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Selmani traced the outburst to his failed attempts to secure a fight with GLORY kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven. According to Selmani, he approached GLORY about facing Verhoeven while the former heavyweight champion was still with the promotion, but the organization declined, citing concerns about protecting Verhoeven's marketability and reputation.

Selmani's frustration extended beyond one missed opportunity. He criticized what he views as the circus-like nature of modern combat sports, where promotions carefully curate matchups and lesser-known fighters gain prominence through streaming and social media rather than demonstrable skill. He contrasted this approach with the fighting ethos of the early 2010s, when competitors prioritized challenging opponents over financial considerations or protective booking. This disillusionment with traditional MMA and kickboxing drove him toward BKFC, where he felt he could compete without the politics and constraints of larger promotions.

Selmani also addressed claims from former BKFC heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell, who alleged on social media that Selmani had turned down a fight offer. Selmani denied the claim, stating through his management that no such offer was ever made, and suggested Rothwell may have requested the matchup only to capitalize on Selmani's WWE profile and newfound prominence in bare-knuckle fighting.

The 32-year-old, who compiled a 4-2 MMA record competing primarily as a teenager, is scheduled for his second BKFC appearance against Brad Lee at BKFC 95 in Newark later this month.