Reinier de Ridder isn’t backing down from a challenge, especially when it involves one of MMA’s hottest rising stars. The former two-division ONE Championship titleholder has built his name on suffocating grappling and calm domination. Now, he’s aiming squarely at Bo Nickal, hoping to drag the NCAA standout into a wrestling-heavy war. But before that, the Dutchman is giving Nickal a reality check!
This matchup is more than just talk. It follows Bo Nickal’s recent outing against Paul Craig, where the American wrestler surprised many by shifting away from his strongest asset. Instead of showcasing his world-class grappling, Nickal leaned heavily on striking, and while he got the win, it didn’t quite win over the crowd. That disapproval was impossible to ignore.
Inside the legendary Madison Square Garden, nearly 20,000 fans booed Nickal despite his victory. But the 29-year-old didn’t let it get to him. Speaking at the post-fight press conference, he said, “I was pumped. They were like, ‘Bo-ooooo.’ How many times does MSG chant your name for that long? So, I’m pumped about it. It was great.”
On the other hand, at UFC 311, de Ridder added another submission win to his record, this time against Kevin Holland. That win only strengthened his case for a bigger name next, and though a clash with Khamzat Chimaev didn’t come together, the Dutchman believes Nickal is a worthy next step. And he’s bringing in all the heat.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, de Ridder opened up about the wave of messages he’s been getting. “I get that from every part of the world at the moment. I don’t know why, maybe because he’s such a prospect or something, but people don’t seem to really like him that much. It is what it is. At Kill Cliff, there are a couple of boys who came here from the wrestling program, so they really told me to go get this guy.” He also revealed that some believe Nickal “rubs me the wrong way,” making the fight all the more appealing.
Last month, de Ridder told the same outlet, “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.”
This might be easier said than done against an ex-NCAA star like Nickal. He was 120-3 when he graduated from Penn State and his NCAA record stands tall at 19 wins and just one loss. He is also a 4-time All-American. And Nickal is putting in the work, ready to silence de Ridder in the cage.
Bo Nickal’s coach issues Reinier de Ridder an ultimatum
As for the style matchup, it’s got plenty of intrigue. De Ridder’s grappling pedigree makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone on the mat. He wants Nickal to stop ducking the wrestling exchanges and finally prove his chops where it all started. “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,” he said.
The ball didn’t stay in de Ridder’s court for long. Nickal has since responded during a training session at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Speaking with Mike Bohn, he kept it simple: “I’m down for it.”
And that confidence is echoed by his team. In a recently released YouTube video, ATT’s BJJ coach Ailton Barbosa didn’t hold back. “He’s going to show everyone, he knows how to strike. Wrestling, they cannot say anything about that. You know jiu-jitsu, and he can punish with elbow and knee. He will be in your face all night long. Three rounds, five minutes, going to be 15 minutes. I don’t think it’s going to be 15 minutes. But if you go 15 minutes, he’s gonna be in your face for 15 minutes,” he said.
A win for either fighter could shift the middleweight landscape. But only one of them gets to call themselves the better man when the mat meets the moment. Will Nickal finally lean into the wrestling exchanges, or will de Ridder hand him his first real test? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
The post Bo Nickal Faces Huge Public Outroar as Reinier De Ridder Gives Ex-NCAA Star a Reality Check Before UFC Des Moines appeared first on EssentiallySports.
