After taking his time processing one of the most unexpected upsets in NCAA wrestling history, Bo Nickal has finally spoken out about Gable Steveson‘s shocking defeat. Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion, knows what it takes to dominate the mat. That’s why, like most fans, he never thought Steveson would lose. Watching from the locker room, he figured the match would be a straightforward triumph for the Olympic gold medalist. But as the minutes went by and the score stayed close, Nickal began to notice something unusual. And when Wyatt Hendrickson landed a last-second takedown to win 5-4, the arena shook—and so did Nickal’s perspective.
In a recent episode of Nickals and Dimes on his YouTube channel, Nickal accepted that he did not expect the match to be competitive at all. “I thought he was going to walk out there and smash him,” he said. Nickal thought it was courageous of Hendrickson to come out waving the American flag—almost too bold. “If you’re going to do that, you’ve got to win.” However, as the match went on, Nickal began to reconsider.
It is worth noting that for years, Steveson had remained untouchable. A 73-match winning streak. An unbeaten season. He was the No. 1 seed at 285 pounds, having defeated Hendrickson 18-2 in their previous clash. Nobody had put him down all season—until that point. ‘The Butcher’ admitted that he didn’t believe it was possible, but when Hendrickson shot in with seconds remaining, he realized it was all or nothing. “I just didn’t really believe that he had the offense to get it done. But, um, when he shot in, like, with whatever it was—you know, 25, 30 seconds left—it was life or death. Like it was all or nothing right there,” he said.
NCAA, College League, USA Wrestling: DI Wrestling Mar 22, 2025 Philadelphia, PA, USA Wyatt Hendrickson of the Oklahoma State Cowboys defeats Gable Steveson of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the Division I Men s Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center PA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xEricxHartlinex 20250322_eh_se7_02946
Steveson’s loss now puts him in the same category as his namesake, Dan Gable, who was 118-0 entering his last NCAA match before suffering a career-defining defeat. For decades, Gable’s defeat was regarded as the most significant upset in NCAA wrestling history. Steveson now has his own terrible chapter, which will be remembered for years. But while Gable Steveson now has his nightmare story, Reinier de Ridder is ready to gift Bo Nickal his very own scary tale.
Reinier de Ridder makes a promise to Bo Nickal ahead of UFC Fight Night
Bo Nickal has always been the guy that no one wants to wrestle. However, in MMA, things aren’t so straightforward. His last fight with Paul Craig? It made others wonder if he was truly built for the top. Sure, the win was there, but what about the hesitation? What about the lack of that lethal edge? That’s what stayed with fans. Now, with UFC Des Moines just weeks away, he has the opportunity to rewrite the narrative. However, there is one major problem. And what is that? Well, Reinier de Ridder is not going to let that happen.
De Ridder, a seasoned BJJ specialist, doesn’t see Nickal as an invincible force. In fact, he believes that with the appropriate circumstances, the wrestling phenom will fold. “I don’t think so,” he replied when asked if Nickal would try to take him down. He cited the Paul Craig fight as proof. “He’s pretty scared of jiu-jitsu on the floor… I think I need to make him wrestle. I need to get close, apply pressure, hit him a few times, and he’ll definitely start shooting.” That’s the game plan, and de Ridder isn’t doubting it at all.
After all, at 34, de Ridder has spent years pitting himself against the greatest fighters in the world. In ONE Championship, he held belts in two weight divisions and annihilated everyone who attempted to outgrapple him. Now, in the UFC, he’s out to do the same. What about Bo Nickal? To de Ridder, he’s simply another wrestler who believes his experience will get him through. But MMA isn’t the NCAA, and wrestling alone won’t make you unbeatable. If ‘The Dutch Knight’ has his way, May 3rd will not be about Nickal proving his critics wrong. It will be the night when he discovers they were correct all along. What do you think? Will Bo Nickal be able to go toe-to-toe against Reinier de Ridder? Let us know in the comments.
The post UFC’s Bo Nickal Forced to Admit Tough Reality After Gable Steveson’s Upset Against Wyatt Hendrickson at NCAA Wrestling Finals appeared first on EssentiallySports.
