Bo Nickal, an undefeated UFC middleweight star, has shared his game plan for his upcoming fight against Reinier De Ridder at UFC Des Moines on May 3 2025. Known for his world class wrestling, Nickal surprised fans by hinting he might focus more on striking in this matchup. The fight, set to take place at Wells Fargo Arena, is a big test for both fighters in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 67.
Nickal’s Plan to Focus on Striking
In a recent YouTube video, Nickal opened up about how he might approach the fight against De Ridder.
He said, “There’s a chance I shoot a takedown this fight, but I don’t know. I’m kind of turning into a striker, so we will see. I’m working on [my kicks], developing, getting better. I think I’m a natural striker. The overhand is there, that’s without a doubt, there’s no doubt about that.”
This statement shows Nickal’s growing confidence in his striking skills, even though he is a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion. His last fight against Paul Craig at UFC 309 in November 2024 also saw him avoid takedowns, opting to strike for the full 15 minutes, which resulted in a unanimous decision win but drew mixed reactions from fans for its lack of grappling.
🥊Bo Nickal says his striking is so sharp, he might not even need to use his wrestling in the next fight against Reinier De Ridder.
He also called himself a ‘natural striker.👀
🎥 @NoBickal ▫️ pic.twitter.com/0LfggGionv
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 23, 2025
De Ridder’s Response and Fight Stakes
Reinier De Ridder, a former ONE Championship two-division champion, has a different plan for the fight. With a record of 19 wins and 2 losses, De Ridder has secured submission victories in his first two UFC fights against Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland, earning him the 13th spot in the middleweight rankings. He has openly challenged Nickal to grapple, saying in an interview with MMA Fighting that he wants to make it a ground battle, even joking:
“Who wants to see us strike? We’re both decent strikers but come on, let’s have some fun.”
De Ridder believes the fight will be won in the clinch, where he plans to use knees and elbows to take control. For Nickal, this fight is a chance to break into the UFC rankings, while a win for De Ridder could push him closer to a top five opponent.
With the UFC Des Moines event approaching, Nickal’s comments about his striking development add intrigue to this middleweight clash. A win could push him closer to the top 15 in the division, solidifying his status as a future contender.
