Weight cuts and the nightmares! A story as old as the sport itself. You know the deal, right? The excruciating phase during fight week has been a staple feature of the UFC sphere since its inception. We have seen fighters in the past looking like a shadow of their healthy counterpart owing to the massive and sudden drop in weight before stepping into the Octagon. Remember TJ Dillashaw’s 125lbs debut and how he looked like a bunch of bones instead of the dominant bantamweight champion? Or take Ilia Topuria, whose footage of weeping before his UFC 298 bout was recorded. The former featherweight champ reportedly cut nearly 40lbs to make 145lbs.
It’s is price that fighters are willing to pay, but it comes with its dangers, let it be a hellish ride for the body or the risk of missing weight and losing any golden opportunity at hand. And the latest to join this arduous path could have been none other than Bo Nickal. The Penn State Alum found himself in a tough spot heading into UFC Des Moines fight week. The 29-year-old rising middleweight raised eyebrows when he was seen weighing around 222.6 pounds in a video on Instagram just days before his scheduled bout against Reinier De Ridder.
For a division that demands fighters to make 185 pounds—or 186 in non-title bouts—that number was alarmingly high. The revelation sent a wave of concern through the fanbase, with many wondering if Nickal would be able to pull off the massive cut in time. At that point, it seemed like nothing short of a miracle could keep him from missing weight.
Despite the daunting 37-pound cut ahead of him, Nickal remained calm and confident. A former multi-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, Nickal put his faith in his discipline and experience. He had never missed weight—not once—throughout his entire amateur or professional career. That track record spoke volumes, and for Nickal, this was just another challenge to conquer. And Nickal did pull it off, much to the surprise of many. From a staggering 222.6 pounds just days earlier, he weighed in at 185.5 pounds—right on target for his UFC Des Moines bout.
Following the weigh-ins, Nickal dropped a message of relief on Instagram with a caption that read, “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”- John A. Shedd. All the hard work is done. Grateful for my team that helped me throughout this training camp. Grateful to God for giving me this opportunity. And finally, grateful to be able to shed 36lbs in one week. The Bo Show goes on around 11 pm EST on ESPN+ Ephesians 6:10-20.”
Well, for Nickal, the hard part might just have begun. He is up against a fighter who impressed one and all with his performance at UFC 311 against Kevin Holland. After all, the Dutchman isn’t just any opponent—he was a 2-division champion in ONE Championship, and since arriving in the UFC, he’s proven he’s the real deal.
With skill, experience, and composure, he’s shown he belongs among the best. But everything comes down to this Saturday, when he and Bo Nickal finally meet in the Octagon. Two talented middleweights, one high-stakes showdown. And only one will walk away with their hand raised. It seems that the Dutchman is ready for the battle and is looking to test his wrestling skills against Nickal.
Reinier De Ridder has few words for Bo Nickal before their anticipated clash
Reinier de Ridder isn’t one to shy away from a tough test, especially when it means stepping in against one of MMA’s rising talents. The former two-division ONE FC champion has carved out a reputation with his smothering grappling and composed, methodical dominance. Now, he’s setting his sights on Bo Nickal, looking to turn the wrestler’s strength into a battlefield.
But before they even touch gloves, De Ridder is already sending a message. The Dutchman is not just here to compete, he is ready to slay the 29-year-old fighter. In an interview with MMA Junkie, de Ridder opened up about how people are flooding him with messages and want him to humble Nickal. However, last month, the Dutchman, while speaking to the same outlet, shared his game plan walking into the fight.
He said, “Ya, I think my wrestling is pretty decent as well. And I really want to make him wrestle this time. Last fight, he was just sticking and moving. Throwing that wild overhand of his and trying to make sure he didn’t wrestle at all. But let’s make it a wrestling match this time. See if we can get him to shoot a couple of times. Let’s see if I can get his neck.”
That, however, is easier said than done when your opponent is a former NCAA wrestling phenom like Bo Nickal. With a jaw-dropping 120-3 record upon graduating from Penn State and an NCAA resume boasting 19 wins and just a single loss, Nickal’s pedigree speaks for itself. And now, he’s grinding harder than ever, fully prepared to let his fists—and wrestling—do the talking. Who do you think will win the fight between the two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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