November 13, 2024 11:45 am ET
Bo Nickal is oozing confidence forward of UFC 309.
Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) takes on Paul Craig (17-8-1 MMA, 9-8-1 UFC) on Saturday’s fundamental card (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
Craig holds wins over the likes of former UFC gentle heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and prime contender Magomed Ankalaev throughout his gentle heavyweight tenure. However regardless of his expertise, Nickal is a whopping -1100 favourite, based on DraftKings, with Craig a +700 underdog.
Nickal went as far as to say he anticipated the percentages to be even wider. “No, the percentages don’t actually shock me,” Nickal stated on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I truly figured they’d be even crazier. It’s nearly like a mania. Each time I come to combat, I feel the individuals know who’s going to win, so it’s all good.”
That being stated, Nickal does acknowledge that, on paper, Craig is his hardest check up to now.
“In fact lots of people know Paul Craig, and he’s had some actually large wins in his profession,” Nickal stated. “He’s a harmful opponent. He’s completed guys who’ve been champion and fought for the belt, so that is undoubtedly probably the most harmful combat I’ve had up thus far and a giant step up.
“However I really feel ready and able to simply proceed to construct my fame. …That’s what I wish to do. I wish to have a step up in competitors each single time I combat. I felt like this was a step up and an applicable one, and it simply offers me an opportunity to proceed to construct my fame, check my abilities, and enhance as a fighter general.”
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