Bo Nickel, a UFC middleweight fighter, had some doubts entering the UFC Des Moines Octagon. He used to be one of the most frequently bet fighters on GGBET HU, but his first loss changed a lot in odds and the number of stakes.
Bo Nickal experienced his first UFC loss on Saturday. It was a fight with Reiner de Ridder that resulted in Nickal’s most disappointing defeat in his career. De Ridder had a brutal hit with his knee on Nickal’s liver, and a star prospect couldn’t continue the fight in the second round.
Nickal used to enter all the previous fights of his as one of the major favorites, but paving his way to UFC Des Moines, he couldn’t boast the same confidence and favorability as earlier. He had a clear understanding that de Ridder is a former 2-division ONE champion who has never been beaten in UFC and boasts impressive wins over other strong fighters like Kevin Holland and Gerald Meerschauert.
Nickal’s fans could spot his excessive confidence in the interviews that were discussing his upcoming fight. However, those who paid closer attention to the former champion of the NCAA Division I could notice some hint of apprehension and anxiety when he was entering the UFC Des Moines tournament.
Bo Nickal Had Clear Expectations Regarding The Possible Fight Outcome
Nickal used to hear a lot of criticism regarding his performance in the fight at UFC 309 where his opponent was Paul Craig, and all that took place prior to his devastating defeat to de Ridder. Though Nickal was recognized as the winner of that fight as a result of a unanimous decision, he was accused of a less thrilling showcase in the Octagon and booed by his fans at Madison Square Garden.
It isn’t a secret that Nickal couldn’t boast as many fights in his MMA career as de Ridder, so he could feel the experience of the latter from the first minutes of the fight at UFC Des Moines.
In the interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Nickal received a question if he overlooked de Ridder when he entered UFC Des Moines. The response of the fighter was honest since he had a clear understanding of the possible outcomes of the upcoming event.
Nickal confessed that he didn’t consider his opponent as someone easy to blow through. He realized that it would be a real test for him and a challenge that could be difficult to overcome. He admitted to having been confident, since this is a must-have trait of every fighter, but he also understood the dangers he may have faced. Nickal shared his doubts and the feeling that this fight could expose his weaknesses, and unfortunately, this is exactly the thing fans could see.
Nickel also said that he wasn’t afraid of the fight with an unbeaten champion. He used to experience different situations and dangers, so this experience made him strong and cold-hearted. He understood one great mistake: de Ridder fought his fight, and Nickal had to follow his route in this event. However, he came to the conclusion that he shouldn’t have been doing that, and it became a big lesson for him!
Nickal didn’t have much experience of fighting outside the UFC. He fought once, and later, he was invited to Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022. When he won his first DWCS fight, Dana White, UFC CEO, suggested that Nickal get more experience since he lacked cage time, according to her opinion.
These concerns have been justified at UFC Des Moines since de Ridder outperformed Nickal in almost all aspects of the fight. If you compare Nickal’s previous fights, you can see that he couldn’t showcase his impressive wrestling with de Ridder, who is famous for his hazardous ground game.
Reiner de Ridder Predicts A Great Future For Bo Nickel
Though Nickal’s performance at UFC Des Moines wasn’t that successful, he was greatly supported after this defeat. De Ridder said a lot of good words about Nickal in his post-fight interview, predicting a promising cage future for him after several years of experience.
When it comes to Ridder, he has already signified his future, calling out Sean Strickland immediately after his recent win. Speaking of Nickal, he has enough time and good potential to reach the top 15-caliber middleweight fighters in a short-term perspective.
