Bo Nickal won't shy away from grinder\u00a0with Reinier de Ridder\u00a0at UFC Iowa
Bo Nickal won't shy away from grinder with Reinier de Ridder at UFC Iowa Wrestling standout says he's 'down for it' with challenge
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – The tests keep getting stiffer for unbeaten wrestling standout Bo Nickal.
In two weeks, he'll have arguably his toughest assignment yet, at least on paper, when he touches down in a state he spent some time in during his prep and collegiate wrestling careers: Iowa.
Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) meets former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 67 co-main event in Des Moines on May 3. Nickal, coming off a decision win over constant ground threat Paul Craig, is more than a 2-1 betting favorite in the fight.
De Ridder recently dropped a bit of a challenge Nickal's way when he said fans aren't interested in seeing them strike – a debatable claim, to be certain. Instead, the Dutchman thinks he and the American should figure things out on the canvas.
Nickal said he won't shy away from it when the cage door closes.
"I'm down for it," Nickal told MMA Junkie at his American Top Team training base in South Florida. "I think for me, the priority is to just do my best. I focus on my attitude and my effort, and I'm grateful for this opportunity. I'm going to go out and go 100 percent the whole time. I'm going to keep bringing it from the first bell to the last. That's all I can control. For me, it's just go out there and give 100 percent effort."
Nickal said his win over Craig was a learning experience that could prove to be invaluable down the road. At UFC 309 this past November in New York, Nickal went the distance for the first time.
In fact, Nickal's 15 minutes in the cage with Craig was essentially double the total cage time in his first six fights, all stoppage wins.
"That was huge for my growth," Nickal said. "My time in the cage doubled just in that one fight. For me, that's one of the most valuable things right now is just continue to rack up that experience. That's one of the reasons why I'm down here at American Top Team training with the best guys in the world is to build that experience up, build that confidence.
"For me, that last fight (against Craig), I think that wasn't what people expected. For me, the growth and the time in the cage was super, super valuable."
Check out Nickal's full interview with Mike Bohn above.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
37 minutes ago
- New York Post
Pope Leo XIV rocks White Sox hat at the Vatican in new photos
Pope Leo XIV brought his White Sox fandom to the Vatican on Wednesday. While holding a general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Chicago-bred pontiff was photographed wearing a black White Sox cap as he greeted onlookers, including a bride and groom who appeared to be fellow fans of the AL Central club. Pope Leo XIV's sports allegiances were thrust into the spotlight in May when he made history after being elected the first American pope. He succeeded Pope Francis, who died in April at the age of 88 after a lengthy battle with double pneumonia. 6 Pope Leo XIV was seen wearing a Chicago White Sox hat at the Vatican on June 11, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 6 The American-born pope greeted newlyweds in his White Sox hat. REUTERS The pope's brother, John Prevost, quickly set the record straight over which Chicago baseball team his sibling preferred amid Cubs chatter. 'He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don't know where that came from,' Prevost told local Chicago station WGN TV. 'He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don't know, maybe that clued in there and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don't know where all that came from. 'And all the aunts, our mom's family was from the north side, so that's why they were Cubs fans.' 6 Pope Leo XIV waved to onlookers in St. Peter's Square on June 11, 2025. Getty Images 6 The pope's sports allegiances were thrust into the spotlight after he was elected. REUTERS Born Robert Francis Prevost, the Windy City native has a publicized history of supporting the White Sox, as resurfaced video showed him wearing team gear during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Astros. Chicago swept Houston in four games. 6 Pope Leo XIV was elected the first American pope in May 2025. REUTERS 6 The White Sox commemorated Pope Leo XIV with a graphic at Rate Field in May 2025. AP Last month, the White Sox installed a Pope Leo XIV graphic at Rate Field in honor of their most famous fan. Beyond the White Sox, who lost a record 121 games last season, Pope Leo XIV is also a Villanova Wildcat, having graduated from the university in 1977. Knicks fans were hopeful Pope Leo's Villanova ties would fuel a championship berth with former Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. The Knicks ultimately lost to the Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
These are some of the more interesting prop bets from BetMGM for the 2025 U.S. Open
These are some of the more interesting prop bets from BetMGM for the 2025 U.S. Open Who's your U.S. Open pick? World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, winner of three of his last four starts, including the most recent major, the PGA Championship? Maybe it's Rory McIlroy. He completed the career grand slam in April when he won the first major of 2025 at the Masters. Perhaps you feel like Bryson DeChambeau is going to go back-to-back in the national championship, while adding a third USGA trophy to his mantle. Those three are among the top four in MGM's odds for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Tournament winner odds for the 2025 U.S. Open Scottie Scheffler +275 Bryson DeChambeau +750 Jon Rahm +1200 Rory McIlroy +1400 Ludvig Aberg +2200 Xander Schauffele +2200 There's a long list of items prospective bettors can make wagers on. From the MGM website, here are a few more interesting ones. Winning margin at 2025 U.S. Open 1 stroke +250 2 strokes +350 3 strokes +650 4 or more strokes +333 Will there be a hole-in-one in any round? Yes +140 No -175 Will the 2025 U.S. Open end in a playoff? Yes +350 No -500 Will an American win the U.S. Open? Any U.S. player -165 The field +130 Will a LIV golfer win the U.S. Open? Yes +350 Will there be an albatross at any point this week? Yes +1600
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 69's Cody Garbrandt says Sean O'Malley 'looked like sh*t' in title fight loss
UFC on ESPN 69's Cody Garbrandt says Sean O'Malley 'looked like sh*t' in title fight loss ATLANTA – Cody Garbrandt is fully focused on getting back on track with a UFC on ESPN 69 win over Raoni Barcelos on Saturday, but if he gets it done, a big fight could await. Former UFC bantamweight champ Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) competes for the first time since UFC 300 in April 2024 when he takes on Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) at State Farm Arena (ESPN, ESPN+). It's an important bout for him, especially after recently signing a new multi-fight contract with the promotion. If Garbrandt can pull off something spectacular this weekend, as he has many times before, then it's hard not to consider a potential showdown with Sean O'Malley, who he once had a heated press conference exchange with and has since fired many verbal and social media shots toward. With O'Malley on a two-fight losing streak after consecutive title losses to champ Merab Dvalishvili, most recently at UFC 316 this month, it could be a potentially good time for the pair to settle their differences. "He should've kept smoking because he looked like sh*t," Garbrandt told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday's media day. "Whatever you have to do. Sometimes you lose and you try to reinvent yourself and find yourself. At the end of the day, you know who you are, you know what you've got to do. I know I'm one of the best fighters in the world. When you lose you've got everyone in your ear saying you've got to do this and you've got to do that. Just remember what got you there and who you are the end of the day. I think that's a huge fight and pay-per-view sale, Sean and I. But I'm focused on this fight this Saturday and then we'll let everything else fall in line." After dealing with some health issues including vertigo, Garbrandt, 33, said this is "the best I've felt in a while" due to mental and emotionally clarity. He hopes that translated into the octagon, because while his reign as champion is now many years ago and there's been many ups and downs since then, Garbrandt admits he doesn't have satisfaction with his career. "I'm a former world champion – yeah, that's great," Garbrandt said. "It's something that was amazing to accomplish, but it didn't fulfilled me. For me to be here, going through what I've gone through (with) the injuries, setbacks, losses – whatever you want to call it. To wake up every day and chase this dream, to push yourself to a limit and set goals inside of the fight career, it's something that wakes me up every day. It motivates me, it scares me and fills me with all different kinds of emotions to get in there and fight another man that's willing to do whatever to get the win."
