In a stunning turn of events at UFC Des Moines, middleweight prospect Bo Nickal faced one of the year's most significant upsets. The co-headliner featured Nickal, an undefeated star and former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler, going up against the formidable former ONE champion, Reinier de Ridder. This match was touted as the toughest challenge of Nickal's career, and the outcome left fans and analysts alike in disbelief.
During the bout, Nickal shockingly found it difficult to impose his ground game against de Ridder, who is regarded as one of the elite grapplers in the middleweight division. The fight took a dramatic turn when Nickal was knocked out by a liver strike in Round 2, marking the first professional loss of his career. Prior to this, Nickal had an impressive UFC record of 4-0, which included two decisive victories on the Dana White Contender Series.
With this win, de Ridder improved his UFC record to 3-0 after transitioning from ONE Championship, solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the organization.
The defeat was undoubtedly the most shocking moment from the UFC Des Moines event. While the main event featured an exhilarating TKO victory by Cory Sandhagen, it was Nickal's loss that captured the spotlight. Recognizing the significance of this setback, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo took to social media to offer support and encouragement to Nickal. In a heartfelt message posted on X, Cejudo drew parallels with his own career, recalling his infamous defeat to Demetrious Johnson.
Cejudo wrote, “The wrestling world has taken a hit today. Keep your head up Bo Nickal; this is not the end. I got finished by Demetrious Johnson with a similar body shot and I went on to avenge that loss and become champion. You are capable of doing the same. Get back on your horse, brother.” Cejudo's journey from a loss in his flyweight title shot at UFC 197 to becoming a two-weight champion serves as a powerful reminder of resilience in the sport.
After his victory, de Ridder wasted no time in calling out former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland during his post-fight interview. As of now, Strickland has not publicly responded to de Ridder's challenge. However, it seems likely that a matchup against a Top 10 middleweight is on the horizon for de Ridder, given his impressive performance at UFC Des Moines.
In the lead-up to UFC Des Moines, there were concerns regarding Nickal's weight, as he entered fight week approximately 37 pounds overweight. Although he managed to make the 186 lb limit successfully on Friday, many fans observed that he appeared noticeably drained and fatigued during the fight. This aspect may have played a role in his performance against de Ridder.
In conclusion, Bo Nickal's unexpected defeat at UFC Des Moines serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of mixed martial arts. While setbacks can be disheartening, support from fellow fighters like Henry Cejudo highlights the importance of perseverance in the journey towards success. As Nickal looks to rebound from this loss, the MMA community will undoubtedly be watching closely.
