Bo Nickal sees Reinier de Ridder as an ideal challenge to advance his career.
Nickal, boasting a perfect 7-0 MMA and 4-0 UFC record, will square off against former ONE Championship titleholder De Ridder, who is 19-2 in MMA and 2-0 in UFC. Their highly anticipated three-round middleweight clash is set for May 3 at UFC on ESPN 67, taking place at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
Nickal has been vocal about his desire to face De Ridder, saying, “This is the matchup I wanted. It’s going to be exciting for many reasons,” during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” He praised De Ridder’s achievements in various organizations and acknowledged the fight as a natural progression in his career. Nickal is keen to keep elevating the caliber of his opponents, unabashedly stating his aim to square off against increasingly formidable competition.
De Ridder, known for his track record of finish victories, presents an intriguing challenge for Nickal, especially considering his jiu-jitsu prowess, reminiscent of Nickal’s recent bout against Paul Craig. “He’s got that jiu-jitsu style, and with him being on a winning streak and having a unique style on the feet, this will definitely be an interesting fight. I’m really excited,” Nickal added.
Nickal’s rising star power in the UFC was solidified with his biggest win so far – a unanimous decision against the notable Paul Craig at UFC 309. A distinguished wrestler, Nickal is eager to keep testing his abilities but acknowledges the difficulty in securing suitable opponents.
“Some fighters want a shot at me, but many avoid it,” Nickal explained. “For some, it’s a chance to boost their name, while those higher up the ranks might not want the risk because they have more to lose. In reality, there are probably only six potential opponents right now that make sense for my career trajectory. But this fight against De Ridder was one I specifically wanted. The UFC saw value in it too, so here we are.”
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