Josh Thomson wants Dana White to cut Bo Nickal: 'It was very telling how much work he needs'
Photo byBo Nickal
's rapid rise through the
UFC
ranks just hit a major speed bump. Once seen as a surefire future contender, the former Penn State wrestling standout suffered a tough loss at UFC Des Moines that has prompted strong reactions throughout the
MMA
world. Among them, former UFC lightweight
Josh Thomson
has offered a bold take: Nickal should be cut from the UFC — for his own good. As surprising as it sounds, it might just be what Nickal needs.
Why Josh Thomson thinks Bo Nickal needs time away from the UFC
Bo Nickal
was fast-tracked to the UFC spotlight after only one professional fight on the regional circuit and two finishes on
Dana White's
Contender Series
. But things changed dramatically over the weekend when he faced
Reinier de Ridder
, a far more seasoned opponent with championship credentials from ONE Championship.
The result? A second-round TKO loss via a vicious knee to the body — Nickal's first pro defeat, dropping his record to 7-1.
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'The way he lost… the UFC, I'm really telling him, like, you know what? You need to spend probably a good eight months, and you need to go you need to tighten up everything,' Josh Thomson shared his thoughts during an episode of the Weighing In podcast. Thomson pointed to past examples like Mason Jones and Youssef Zalal — fighters who were temporarily released from the UFC to gain experience on the regional scene before returning.
Bo Nickal out of the UFC!?! — Next Fights for UFC Des Moines Fighters
'We're gonna give you some time… We're gonna almost do like what we did with Mason Jones or what we did with Youssef Zalal, and we're gonna send you off a little bit. We'll give you eight months or whatever,' Thomson added. 'He needs work. It was very telling how much work he needs.'
What's next? A potential bout with Torrez Finney
Rather than cutting Nickal for good, Big John McCarthy pitched a different route: a bout with undefeated 11-0 middleweight
Torrez Finney
. The short, powerful wrestler impressed on the Contender Series and recently won his UFC debut.
'Both had multiple fights in the
Dana White
contender series,' Thomson said. 'I could see that fight [happening]. Honestly, with Torrez Finney, they don't seem like they want him.'
McCarthy agreed, replying, 'That's why it's the fight to make.'
Also Read:
Eddie Hall's MMA debut ends in 30-second knockout: Mariusz Pudzianowski reacts to controversy
Bo Nickal's hype train has slowed, but it's far from derailed. Whether it's time off, a stint outside the UFC, or a test against someone like Finney, the goal remains the same: growth. For a fighter with Nickal's pedigree, how he bounces back will define what comes next.
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