Once hailed as an unstoppable force in the UFC’s middleweight division—and even earning praise from figures like President Trump—Bo Nickal’s meteoric rise appeared almost untouchable. A three-time NCAA champion with a flawless MMA record, many saw the American as the future of the sport. But at UFC Des Moines earlier this month, that aura of invincibility took its first hit. In his eighth appearance inside the Octagon, Nickal faced his toughest challenge yet: Reinier de Ridder, a former ONE Championship titleholder in two divisions and a decorated BJJ specialist.
While Bo Nickal’s elite wrestling has dominated past opponents, it faltered this time. The Dutch neutralized the wrestling threat with a well-executed game plan, landing sharp knees and elbows throughout the bout. A perfectly timed knee in the final moments dropped the fan-favorite and handed the ex-NCAA star the first loss of his professional MMA career.
Despite the setback, Nickal isn’t hanging his head. Determined to rebound, he’s vowed to return stronger—and he’s not short on support. UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot, preparing to face Ludovít Klein at UFC Vegas 107 later this month, has thrown his support behind the American.
‘Gamer’, who trains alongside Nickal at American Top Team, spoke with Ariel Helwani during a recent promotional interview. Reflecting on Nickal’s performance, Gamrot admitted: “Yes, I was a little bit surprised because I thought Bo Nickal would win this fight, especially since stylistically it was great for him. But the other guy had grappling as well and came in with a really good game plan against Bo Nickal.”
While surprised by the outcome, Mateusz Gamrot remains confident in Bo Nickal’s future. He emphasized that setbacks like these are often the best teachers in MMA: “I’m not happy that Bo Nickal lost, but for sure, this will make him stronger. He’s a smart man, he’s a sportsman, so there’s a lesson in this for him. In his next fight, he’ll be a better fighter for sure.”
Gamrot has no doubt that @NoBickal will bounce back and use his first loss as fuel to become even better #HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/gNejfupQCC
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) May 20, 2025
Since earning his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Bo Nickal quickly became a rising star. Though currently unranked, he had been on a dominant run, securing impressive wins over seasoned opponents like Paul Craig and Cody Brundage. Moreover, the Penn State Alum has always featured on the main cards of marquee PPV events like UFC 285 (his debut), UFC 290, UFC 300, and UFC 309. That’s quite a resume for a newcomer in the UFC.
But few saw it coming when Reinier de Ridder, crossing over from another promotion, derailed Bo’s winning streak. Despite the upset, ‘RDR’ is confident that this isn’t the end for Nickal, but rather the beginning of a stronger return. Here’s what the Dutch standout had to say about Bo Nickal’s future.
Reinier de Ridder defends Bo Nickal after UFC Des Moines setback
“I never want to be an undefeated UFC champion.” Those were the honest words from Bo Nickal after his confidence took a major hit following his unexpected loss to Reinier de Ridder. The rising prospect, once seen as unstoppable, now appears more grounded, committed to returning with an improved mindset and rejecting any shortcuts to the title.
In a twist of fate, Reinier de Ridder knows this road all too well. At the height of his own career, he endured back-to-back crushing defeats, losing both his middleweight and light heavyweight titles to Anatoly Malykhin. The setbacks led to his exit from ONE Championship, but ‘The Dutch Knight’ bounced back and is now undefeated in the UFC, proving that adversity can shape champions. Just last week, de Ridder acknowledged seeing shades of his younger self in Bo Nickal’s journey.
While speaking with MMA Fighting on Monday, the Dutch fighter reflected on the fine balance between self-belief and overconfidence. “The difference between being very confident and arrogant is very small. I’ve been a victim of this in the past, maybe a little bit as well.” Despite Nickal’s stumble, the Dutch fighter remains optimistic about his future in the sport. “He’s a powerful guy. He’s a very strong individual, and I think he’s going to take some time off from planning a fight, and we’ll see him back in six months.”
Now the question is—what do you think about Bo Nickal’s future in the UFC? Can his world-class wrestling carry him to the top in a division stacked with elite strikers? Share your take in the comments below!
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