Bo Nickal has just a few concepts about his subsequent opponent within the UFC, however doesn’t count on to face one other extremely touted prospect like Shara “Bullet” Magomedov.
Coming off a win over Paul Craig at UFC 309, Nickal is already trying in the direction of the longer term with hopes to quickly face some ranked competitors as he continues to evolve and progress in his profession. Whereas there are many names obtainable within the high 15, the three-time NCAA champion wrestler is aware of the UFC gained’t feed him a pure striker like Magomedov simply but as a result of they’d be killing off one in all their most hyped fighters with each of them sporting comparable undefeated data within the octagon.
“They wouldn’t match it up,” Nickal mentioned concerning the combat when chatting with the Pound-for-Pound podcast. “It might be a simple combat however for me, there’s no drawback in that combat. However let’s discuss it realistically.”
On the subject of opponents the UFC would possibly contemplate, Nickal believes he’s reached the purpose the place the rankings are a pure subsequent step, however he’s not taking pictures for the moon when desirous about opponents.
Whereas he stopped brief from calling anyone out specifically, Nickal threw out just a few options based mostly on the fighters who at the moment occupy spots within the backside a part of the middleweight rankings.
“Any man within the high 15, from [No. 15 to 10], is a troublesome combat,” Nickal mentioned. “There’s no one within the UFC that isn’t good, proper? You possibly can take any of those guys, even these guys that I’m knocking out and destroying, put them on a regional promotion and so they’re an all-star. They’re the perfect man in all the group. It’s one thing for me, I’m completely excited to combat all the perfect guys. Anyone within the 10 to fifteen vary poses attention-grabbing exams, attention-grabbing threats.
“I don’t know the highest 15 precisely however I’m pondering guys like [Michel] Pereira, Anthony Hernandez is there, Shara Bullet, [Roman] Kopylov, [Roman] Dolidze, [Paulo] Costa. Even a man I do know he bounces up and down from 170 to [185 pounds] however Kevin Holland, he’s obtained loads of knockout wins. So guys like that, all of them pose attention-grabbing threats. They’re all guys I may have bother with however on the identical time, I consider in my talent set, I consider in what I’m able to doing and as I proceed to coach, and work extra on the placing, work extra on the jiu-jitsu and mixing all of it collectively, I believe I also can dominate loads of these guys and make it look straightforward.”
As a lot as Nickal desires to achieve his final purpose of turning into UFC middleweight champion after which ultimately conquering the highest of the pound-for-pound rankings, he’s additionally fast to do not forget that he barely has any expertise in comparison with most of the opponents he’s going to be dealing with quickly.
That’s one motive why Nickal was truly blissful he spent quarter-hour within the octagon with Craig at UFC 309 as a result of it gave him helpful time and expertise after he basically tore by way of his first few opponents with none actual resistance.
Now as he plans to deal with the highest 15 fighters on this planet, Nickal understands there’s no room for error.
“I’ve been combating MMA professionally simply over two years,” Nickal mentioned. “I began within the late summer season of 2022 and now I’m the featured bout at [Madison Square Garden] the tip of 2024. So the place am I going to be on the finish of 2026? I believe the trajectory is basically excessive and all I’ve obtained to do is keep on that very same path.
“I do know the work that I put in on a regular basis. I don’t suppose anybody places in as a lot work as me not solely once I’m trying on the bodily, technical coaching aspect of it however the movie research and simply attempting to develop my combat IQ, I don’t suppose anyone watches as a lot movie as I do. I believe that’s the place I’m making up loads of floor on these guys and I’ll proceed to make up floor.”
