Bo Nickal is the latest UFC fighter to invite his online critics for an impromptu sparring session.
Bo Nickal has been in the spotlight for years, even before signing with the UFC. The former NCAA Division-I wrestling national champion is used to dealing with naysayers and haters, especially after back-to-back, slow wins inside the Octagon.
Nickal, who was dubbed a blue-chip prospect by many MMA analysts upon his arrival in the UFC, was booed mercilessly by the crowd after a win against Paul Craig at UFC 309. Despite being one of the most talented wrestlers in the world , Nickal opted to take a noticeably heavy approach to his fight with Craig, considering the danger Craig poses from his guard.
In the days and weeks since UFC 309, Nickal has heard from trolls around the world about his sometimes jaw-dropping feats. Nickal's solution? He has invited the trolls to meet him in person at his gym to test their theories.
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Bo Nickal gives online trolls an ultimatum after latest win
During a recent episode of his Nickals and Dimes podcast, Nickal invited online trolls to spar him at his gym in Pennsylvania.
“I fought the best and brightest fight of my career and no one is going to change my mind about that,” Nickal said. “So, if anyone has a problem with it, come to the crazy ATT in Pleasant Gap and scrap it. If you have a problem with it, you can see what it feels like to get punched in the face. So, otherwise, shut up.
“I felt terrible about my UFC 300 performance and I finished in the second round and the crowd was cheering and excited about it,” Nickal continued. “I thought this was the worst performance I've had in my career, and this was the best performance I've had and the fans booed and I feel great. Literally zero effect on me. So I will continue to do what I do.” (h/tBJPenn)
Nickal remains undefeated in his MMA career as he quickly rises to UFC stardom. Despite the prestige of Craig's win, Nickal could still be one or two wins away from a spot in the middleweight Top 15.
Photos by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Dana White admitted that he has had conversations with Bo Nickal about his style and trajectory
After UFC 309, UFC CEO Dana White was asked to assess Nickal's performance and the harsh fan reception to his win. White said he and Nickal have had numerous conversations in recent months about his goals and fighting style, implying the hyped prospect needs to curb his high expectations.
Nickal, 28, is in no rush to get into the middleweight title mix as he continues to gain experience and lessons in and out of the cage. Before defeating Craig, he had recent victories over Cody Brundage and Val Woodburn.
Nickal is still under scrutiny given the immense hype he entered the UFC with prior to his debut. But after another win that left some fans craving more output, Nickal could potentially get a few new visitors to his gym in the coming months.
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