Bo Nickal isn`t accustomed to experiencing defeat often in his athletic journey, but history suggests he consistently bounces back improved after facing a setback.
This was the clear message conveyed by the three-time NCAA wrestling champion after he broke his silence regarding the disappointing outcome of his co-main event bout against Reinier de Ridder at UFC Des Moines. The highly-regarded prospect suffered his first professional loss via second-round knockout, following a powerful knee strike to the body delivered by de Ridder that brought the fight to an end.
Although the result was undeniably not what he aimed for, Nickal expressed his commitment to returning stronger when he competes next.
“Grateful for the highs and lows,” Nickal shared on Instagram. “I’ll be back.”
Immediately after the fight concluded on Saturday, American Top Team, the gym where Nickal trains, also issued a brief statement on social media, echoing a similar perspective on the result.
“Less than four years in the sport, and already on the biggest stage. Setbacks are part of the journey. Learn, grow, and come back stronger. Bo Nickal will be back.”
Before his recent loss to de Ridder, Nickal boasted a near-perfect start to his MMA career, holding a 7-0 record with six finishes by either knockout or submission.
His only previous fight that went to the judges` scorecards was against the experienced Paul Craig. However, his unbeaten streak ended when he encountered de Ridder.
De Ridder, a former two-division ONE champion, proved challenging for Nickal in the clinch and even secured a dominant position on the ground after a grappling exchange concluded with de Ridder on top.
Despite significant attention being paid to Nickal`s wrestling prowess and de Ridder`s high-level jiu-jitsu, the fight`s decisive factor ultimately proved to be striking.
As Nickal appeared visibly fatigued in his movements, de Ridder began effectively targeting the body with a series of knee strikes. After Nickal attempted an ill-timed boxing combination, de Ridder countered precisely with a knee directly to the midsection, resulting in the 29-year-old middleweight collapsing to the canvas.
The loss brings Nickal`s professional record to 7-1. He is clearly focused on learning from this experience and aims for a more favorable outcome in his future octagon appearances.
