Former ONE two-division champion Reinier de Ridder reacted to harsh criticism of Bo Nickal after UFC Des Moines.
Reinier de Ridder gave the beforehand unbeaten Bo Nickal a tough wake-up name within the UFC Des Moines co-main occasion. After dominating the begin to his UFC profession, Nickal was knocked out by de Ridder in Spherical 2 of their struggle with a brutal knee to the liver, capping off the motion.
It was a shocking first-career MMA defeat for Nickal after knocking on the door of a Prime 15 middleweight slot only a handful of fights into his preventing profession. He struggled with de Ridder’s putting and well timed wrestling in a stunning final result at UFC Des Moines.
After struggling the primary setback of his preventing profession, Nickal heard criticism from all sides after UFC Des Moines. Some accused him of ‘quitting’ in opposition to de Ridder, and one former light-weight went so far as to encourage UFC CEO Dana White to cut Nickal.
Reinier de Ridder forecasts ‘killer’ Bo Nickal’s future after UFC Des Moines
Earlier than UFC Des Moines, Nickal was seen as a once-in-a-generation MMA expertise after a embellished collegiate wrestling profession at Penn State. Whereas the hype has dwindled after UFC Des Moines, de Ridder nonetheless expects large issues from Nickal sooner or later.
In a current interview with MMA Fighting‘s Damon Martin, de Ridder lauded Nickal and addressed the hatred directed on the prospect after UFC Des Moines.
“I’m simply blissful I bought an opportunity to struggle him now and never in three years,” de Ridder continued. “In three years, he’s going to be a f—— killer. He’s going to run by everyone.
“I would like to work with him. Due to the talent set he brings, it will be superior to coach collectively. I don’t actually know if me being a Kill Cliff man now and him being [American Top Team] goes to work out, however possibly we are able to do it low-key and never inform anyone.”
De Ridder then weighed in on Nickal’s perceived vanity forward of their struggle.
“I’ve been a sufferer of this previously, possibly a little bit bit as effectively. I’m all the time assured in my talents, however I’ve stepped over the road a little bit bit into vanity as effectively,” de Ridder stated. “I don’t really feel he was that boastful coming into this struggle all, to be sincere. He was very humble. From what I’ve seen, he was very down-to-earth coming into this struggle.”
Nickal was closely criticized following his most up-to-date victory over Paul Craig at UFC 309 after a sluggish three rounds within the Octagon. White admitted Nickal ‘needed work’ after the Craig struggle, referring to the Dana White’s Contender Collection alum’s lack of MMA expertise.
After the loss to de Ridder, Nickal might take a while off to regroup and develop his abilities. Extra eyes can be on Nickal’s MMA profession than ever earlier than as followers debate whether or not or not he’ll reside as much as the immense hype.
Bo Nickal’s coach admits UFC pushed prospect too quick after gorgeous defeat
American Prime Staff head coach Mike Brown, who has cornered Nickal for his whole MMA profession, admitted that the matchmakers might’ve pushed Nickal up the middleweight ladder too fast after UFC Des Moines. Regardless of Nickal’s previous feedback about future fights with Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis, Brown believes Nickal nonetheless has a protracted solution to go to contemplate himself an elite fighter, however he touted his pupil’s potential.
Nickal entered UFC Des Moines with a 4-0 file within the Octagon, together with fast finishes of Val Woodburn and Jamie Pickett. He fought simply as soon as earlier than getting an invitation on DWCS in 2022.
Nickal’s subsequent struggle is arguably the largest of his preventing profession, and he’s no stranger to bouncing again from adversity, courting again to Penn State. However for now, Nickal continues to listen to from the critics after his first MMA velocity bump.
