Former ONE two-division champion Reinier de Ridder has addressed the strong criticism directed at Bo Nickal following the UFC Des Moines event.
At UFC Des Moines, Reinier de Ridder handed previously undefeated Bo Nickal his first professional loss. Nickal was knocked out by de Ridder in the second round with a brutal knee to the liver during the co-main event.
This marked a stunning first MMA defeat for Nickal, who had quickly ascended the middleweight ranks. He struggled with de Ridder`s striking and effective wrestling control in what was a shocking outcome.
Following his first professional setback, Nickal faced criticism from various angles. Some accused him of `quitting` against de Ridder, while at least one former lightweight suggested UFC CEO Dana White should release Nickal.
De Ridder Predicts a Bright Future for Nickal
Before UFC Des Moines, Bo Nickal was widely seen as a generational MMA talent, although the hype has somewhat decreased after his loss. However, Reinier de Ridder still anticipates great things from him. In a recent interview, de Ridder praised Nickal and commented on the negative reactions he received.
“I`m just happy I got a chance to fight him now and not in three years,” de Ridder stated. “In three years, he`s going to be a killer. He`s going to run through everybody.”
He added, “I would really like to work with him. Because of the skill set he brings, it would be awesome to train together… maybe we can do it low-key and not tell anybody.”
De Ridder also shared his thoughts on Nickal`s perceived arrogance leading up to their fight.
“I`ve been a victim of this in the past,” de Ridder admitted, “maybe stepping over the line a little bit into arrogance. But to be honest, I don`t feel he was that arrogant coming into this fight at all. He was very humble. From what I`ve seen, he was very down-to-earth coming into this fight.”
Nickal had faced significant criticism even after his previous victory over Paul Craig at UFC 309 for a somewhat sluggish three-round performance. At that time, Dana White conceded that Nickal `needed work,` citing the former Contender Series participant`s limited MMA experience.
Following the loss to de Ridder, Nickal might take some time away to regroup and develop his skills. His MMA career will now be under even greater scrutiny as fans debate whether he will ultimately live up to the immense hype surrounding him.
Nickal`s Coach Suggests UFC Rushed Prospect
American Top Team head coach Mike Brown, who has cornered Nickal throughout his MMA career, admitted after the loss that the UFC matchmakers might have advanced Nickal too quickly up the middleweight ranks. Despite Nickal`s past bold statements about potential future fights, Brown believes Nickal still needs significant development to be considered an elite fighter, though he emphasized his pupil`s high potential.
Nickal entered UFC Des Moines with a 4-0 professional record, including quick finishes in the Octagon. He had only one pro fight before earning his Contender Series invitation in 2022.
Nickal`s next fight is arguably one of the most crucial of his career. While he is no stranger to bouncing back from adversity, dating back to his wrestling days, the criticism following his first loss persists.
