Bo Nickal entered UFC Des Moines with the aura of an undefeated prospect and the notion that he was destined for greatness. But when the fight started, Reinier de Ridder rose to the situation and walked away with all the momentum. Something seemed off about Nickal from the start. He started out aggressively but faded rapidly, and by the end of the first round, questions were already flying about. Oscar Willis was among the first to see it: “Bo looked slumped and fatigued in the corner after round one, and then RDR came out and finished the job. Wonder if there’s an injury to the body there, but solid work by RDR to finish the job.” That wasn’t just a passing comment; it encapsulated the uneasy feeling that many fans were already experiencing. Nickal was not himself. And when de Ridder folded him with a knee in the second round, things fell apart quickly.
From there, the internet pounced. Dillon Danis summed up the mood with his usual venom: “Fraud Checked: Bo Nickal.” One knee to the body, and the illusion shattered. Corey Anderson didn’t hold back either, “Bo may not be afraid to wrestle, but he’s 100% scared to grapple here,” casting doubts about Nickal’s apparent dominance in this area. There was no pity in the reactions, only stark truths. For a fighter regarded as the next great thing, Nickal seems bewildered, outclassed, and possibly even exposed. While fans disputed whether injuries played a role, the general consensus was that Reinier de Ridder deserved every second of that finish—and Bo had no answer when it counted.
But it wasn’t just about giving Bo his first loss. De Ridder ensured that his moment did not end at the finish line. As Nickal sat dazed and defeated, RDR gazed straight ahead at Sean Strickland. Calling him out wasn’t simply brave; it was a power play. Here’s a guy who most UFC fans only knew from his time in ONE Championship, and now he’s putting his name in the middleweight spotlight with one knockout and one callout. Aaron Bronsteter stated it clearly: “Reinier de Ridder hands Bo Nickal his first professional loss in spectacular fashion!” However, that amazing climax was only part one. Part two? Challenging Sean Strickland, one of the UFC’s most unpredictable and dangerous fighters. De Ridder’s message was clear: he’s not here for warm-up fights. He seeks chaos, legacy, and risk.
Bo looked slumped and fatigued in the corner after round one, and then RDR came out and finished the job. Wonder if there’s an injury to the body there, but solid work by RDR to finish the job.
— Oscar Willis (@oscarswillis) May 4, 2025
Meanwhile, reactions continued to come in. Alex Behunin couldn’t contain his shock: “HOLY S— RDR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Damon Martin expressed his disbelief: “REINIER DE RIDDER!!! He just knocked out Bo Nickal!” MMA Gone Wild shouted in all caps, “RDR KNOCKS OUT BO NICKAL WITH A KNEE IN ROUND 2!!” That final knee was more than just a clean strike; it represented a shift in momentum. It reduced a decorated wrestler to a question mark while elevating Reinier de Ridder to the status of a UFC contender. The hype around Nickal may not be dead, but it’s bruised and bloodied. And right now, all eyes are on RDR—not only for what he did but also for what he has planned next. This is a developing story.
The post Injury Suspected for Bo Nickal as Reinier De Ridder Calls Out Sean Strickland After ‘Fraud Check’ Moment at UFC Des Moines appeared first on EssentiallySports.
