Bo Nickal has become a prime target for criticism and, unfortunately, negativity after racking up his maiden professional defeat at UFC Des Moines. The term ‘fraud check’ is being thrown around at the moment, since the loss was pretty lopsided. However, his opponent, Reinier De Ridder, has empathized with Nickal and understands the situation he’s in right now. And guess what? The Dutchman has no beef with a top prospect, who often comes across as a bit arrogant, owing to his tall claims from 2022 of being a -1000 favorite against division boogeyman, Khamzat Chimaev.
The former 3-time NCAA Division I champion had his coach, Mike Brown, back him up against the online negativity, claiming that he’s just trying to fulfill his dream and provide for his family. While he’s rubbed some fighters the wrong way, Nickal is actually well-liked by his Dutch counterpart, who advised him to turn a deaf ear to the noise in the MMA community, and De Ridder is pretty sure that the 29-year-old will come back stronger in his next fight.
“It’s what it is. This is the climate we live in. This is the way our community kind of works nowadays. If you have a lot of confidence and then it doesn’t work out, people kind of find that funny,” Reinier de Ridder told ‘Submission Radio’. “They try to put their own ego on top of that and tell everybody, ‘I told him so,’ ‘I never thought Bo was any good.’ But he’s an awesome fighter, man. I am 100 percent sure he’ll be back.”
The former ONE double champion mentioned that losing his first fight has provided a chance for Bo Nickal to evolve as a fighter and address his shortcomings. Who knows? Maybe Nickal may not have felt the need to level up if he had somehow managed to earn a scrappy win. Hence, de Ridder claims the ball will always be in the prospect’s court, and with a long way to go, he needs to make the right decisions.
“He has the opportunity, like I had when I lost my fights. I lost two fights in ONE [Championship], in devastating fashion as well. And something I really learnt at that time is that you can make it a bad or a good thing. You’re the only one who can,” Reinier De Ridder further stated. “If he does something with it, grows from it, then he can make it a good thing. If he just pushes this to the side and thinks, ‘It’s a fluke and I’m still the best fighter the world has ever seen,’ then it might be a negative thing.”
Well, that’s one part of the advice, and the other part of De Ridder’s advice includes immediate action from Nickal. Keeping the phone away and staying away from social media for a while might be a wise decision, according to the Dutchman. “So, it’s up to him right now. But the most important thing I would say is put the phone away for a couple of days and don’t go online for the next week, and next week, everything will be normal again,” De Ridder added.
MMA: UFC Fight Night – Des Moines – de Ridder v Nickal May 3, 2025 Des Moines, Iowa, UNITED STATES Bo Nickal blue gloves prepares to fight Reinier de Ridder not pictured during UFC Fight Night at Wells Fargo Arena. Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena Iowa UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xReesexStricklandx 20250503_jhp_ax4_0382
While there have been some very critical comments aimed at Bo Nickal, the 29-year-old has also received other kinds of criticisms that aren’t entirely negative. And you’d be surprised to know that one of those critics who fall into the latter category has a bit of beef with Nickal.
Ex-UFC fighter sidelines beef and backs Bo Nickal to become champion
In 2022, Bo Nickal made bold callouts to Khamzat Chimaev, but got snubbed by the Chechen-born, prompting his teammate Darren Till to issue a challenge, who expressed wanting to take Nickal’s head off. That comment rubbed the prospect the wrong way, and he clapped back at the Liverpudlian, warning him of the potential dangers of facing him inside the Octagon. After almost three years, Till has clapped back at those comments.
Darren Till, who had a similar push to the top in the UFC like Bo Nickal, reminded the 29-year-old that his comments were distasteful since he now understands how easily fighters can fall off when they’re at the top. Suggesting that he change his attitude, ‘The Gorilla’ provided support to Nickal, and claims that he envisions the former multiple-time NCAA champion to become a UFC champion in the future.
“Unlucky for the weekend, Bo Nickal. It’s hard at the top in MMA, but I fully believe you can still be champion. You’ll grow from this. Just wanted to say as I am givging you praise I also wanted to say about when you talked mad crap about me how you would easily beat me,” Till wrote in a tweet.
“Maybe now you know what it’s like being at the top, as I have been to the top in MMA, had my losses, and also had my wins. I hope you learn to never look down on people again, especially in MMA, cos this isn’t wrestling, this is elite-level MMA. Go back to the drawing board and can’t wait to see how good you come back, champ. All the best.”
Darren Till showed real class in his message to the budding prospect, who has promised to come back stronger. It remains to be seen if Bo Nickal fights one more time before the year comes to an end. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
The post “Don’t Go Online” – Reinier De Ridder Gives Bo Nickal Only One Advice After Top UFC Prospect Suffers His First Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.
