Bo Nickal (7-1) faced a stunning defeat at UFC on ESPN 67 in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 3, 2025. Reinier de Ridder ended his perfect record with a knee to the body in the second round.
Reinier de Ridder (20-2), a former ONE Championship double-champion, controlled the clash with relentless pressure. He now boasts a four-fight win streak, showcasing his elite skills.
A three-time NCAA wrestling champion from Penn State, Nickal carried massive hype into the octagon. His explosive finishes over Jamie Pickett and Cody Brundage fueled expectations.
Brendan Schaub, a former UFC fighter, shared his thoughts on the setback via his “Thiccc Boy” podcast. He pushed Nickal to rely on his wrestling roots.
Schaub said:
“You’ve got to become that dominant wrestler like you were at Penn State. But if they tell me, ‘Schaub, take it easy, his striking is really good in the gym, we’re going to focus on striking, forget about wrestling,’ I’ll tell you he won’t last long. If his whole mentality doesn’t change and goes, ‘OK, I’ve got to become the Khabib of 185 and absolutely break everybody with my grappling, f*ck striking’… If his team wants him to last and be a contender, we’ve got to focus on his grappling and wrestling.”
He believes Nickal’s ground game is his path to success.
Schaub’s Blunt Critique and Khabib Vision
Schaub didn’t hold back on Nickal’s striking, calling it a weak point. He compared it unfavorably to regional and Contender Series fighters.
He stated:
“When he’s forced to strike – you guys know I love Bo, (but) his striking, I’ve seen better guys on the regional level, on the Contender Series. It’s just not there. That’s OK. If this was a video game, his striking is a 1 at the UFC level, and his grappling is at 10. Why the f*ck are we trying to win with the 1?”
Schaub sees Nickal’s stand-up as a liability against elite foes.
Schaub’s reference to Khabib Nurmagomedov points to the former lightweight king’s suffocating grappling style. Khabib went 29-0 in MMA by overwhelming opponents with wrestling, a model Schaub wants Nickal to follow at middleweight.
Nickal’s coach, Mike Brown, called the loss a wake-up call, noting his inexperience after just three years in MMA. Brown believes the 29-year-old can grow from the setback.
De Ridder defended Nickal, saying he’ll be a “killer” in three years with more experience. He dismissed claims Nickal was overhyped, praising his potential.
Fans on X showed mixed feelings, with some echoing Schaub’s call for Nickal to grapple more. Others enjoyed the upset, citing Nickal’s bold pre-fight claims about outwrestling Khamzat Chimaev.
Nickal vowed to return stronger, posting on social media about learning from defeat. His American Top Team gym backed him, emphasizing resilience.
With elite wrestling skills, Nickal could adopt Schaub’s advice to dominate on the ground. His next steps will show if he pivots to a Khabib-like style to chase UFC gold.
