The former two -division champion Reinier de Ridder responded to hard criticism of Bo Nickal after UFC des Moines.
Reinier de Ridder gave the previously unbeaten Bo Nickal a rough wake-up call in the UFC des Moines Co-Main event. After dominating the start of his UFC career, Nickal was eliminated by De Ridder in round 2 in their fight with a brutal knee for the liver, which closed the action.
It was a stunning MMA defeat for the first career for Nickal after beating on the door of a top 15 middleweight slot only a handful of fighting in his fighting career. He struggled with the striking and timely wrestling of the knight in a shocking outcome at UFC des Moines.
After having had the first setback of his fighting career, Nickal heard criticism from all sides after UFC des Moines. Some accused him of 'stop' against the knight, and a former lightweight went so far that he encouraged UFC CEO Dana White to cut Nickal.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Reinier de Ridder predicts the future of 'Killer' Bo Nickal na UFC des Moines
Before UFC des Moines, Nickal was seen as a one-off MMA talent after a decorated collegial wrestling career in Penn State. While the hype has been taken after UFC des Moines, De Ridder still expects big things from Nickal in the future.
In a recent interview with Damon Martin from MMA Fighting, De Ridder Nickal praised and appealed to the hatred aimed at the prospect after UFC des Moines.
“I am just happy that I had the chance to fight now and not in three years,” De Ridder continued. “In three years he will be finished – Killer. He will run through everyone.
“I would really like to work with him. Because of the skills he brings, it would be great to train together. I don't really know if I am a kill -klifman and he is now [American Top Team] Is going to train, but maybe we can restrain it and don't tell anyone. “
De Ridder then weighed the observed arrogance of Nickal prior to their fight.
“I have been the victim of this in the past, perhaps a bit. I always have faith in my capacities, but I also stepped over the line in arrogance,” De Ridder said. “I don't feel that he was that arrogant who all came in this fight, to be honest. He was very modest. From what I saw, he was very sober in this fight.”
Nickal was severely criticized after his most recent victory over Paul Craig on UFC 309 after a slow three rounds in the Octagon. White gave Nickal 'necessary work' needed after the Craig fight, referring to the lack of MMA experience of the Dana White's Contender Series Alum.
After the loss for De Ridder, Nickal can take some free time to regroup and develop his skills. More eyes will be focused on Nickal's MMA career than ever before, while fans debate whether he will live up to the immense hype.
Bo Nickal's coach admits that UFC pushed the prospect too quickly after a stunning defeat
The American top team head coach Mike Brown, who has cornered his entire MMA career, admitted that the matchmakers Nickal may have pushed the middleweight ladder after UFC des Moines too quickly. Despite Nickal's earlier comments about future battles with Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis, Brown believes that Nickal still has a long way to consider himself an elite hunter, but he praised the potential of his student.
Nickal entered UFC des Moines with a 4-0 record in the Octagon, including fast finishes of Val Woodburn and Jamie Pickett. He only fought once before he received an invitation to DWCS in 2022.
Nickal's next fight is perhaps the largest of his fighting career, and he is no stranger to bounce back from adversity, dating from Penn State. But for now Nickal keeps hearing from the critics after his first MMA speed bump.