Tag: Bo Nickal

Henry Cejudo: Bo Nickal needs to hold his horses, ‘maybe 10 fights away from possibly becoming UFC champion’

Henry Cejudo doesn’t think Bo Nickal is quite ready for the top after UFC 300.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] doesn’t think [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] is quite ready for the top after UFC 300.

Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) remained unbeaten when he submitted Cody Brundage (10-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC) in Round 2 of Saturday’s main card opener at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Nickal gave himself two thumbs down for his performance, but Cejudo still sees championship potential in the standout wrestler – just not right now.

“Don’t put that pressure on you, if you’re disappointed in your performance, because quite honestly, I do believe you could be a future champ at 185 pounds – but you are not ready for the top 10,” Cejudo said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “If they put you up against big bodies like Marvin Vettori, who have good jiu-jitsu, big dudes and could also wrestle – even a guy like Paulo ‘Borrachinha’ (Costa) … I mean, he’s not quite ready for that top 10.

“I think at 185 pounds, he needs to go three rounds. He needs to understand that threshold because still him winning and beating these guys super early, if you want to be champion, how is it going to feel when you actually go five rounds against guys like Sean Strickland, Paulo ‘Borrachinha,’ Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier? That weight class is absolutely stacked. I think he needs to hold his horses. I think he’s still maybe 10 fights away from possibly becoming UFC champion.”

Nickal called out Anthony Hernandez, who’s on a five-fight winning streak and ranked No. 12 in the UFC’s middleweight rankings. He is scheduled to face Roman Dolidze at UFC 302 on June 1.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Bo Nickal’s response to Khamzat Chimaev’s criticism of his UFC 300 win wasn’t the best

Asking who Khamzat Chimaev beat when he, too, was 5-0 kind of backfired on Bo Nickal.

Perhaps [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s response to [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] dismissing his UFC 300 performance wasn’t the best.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) criticized Nickal’s (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) wrestling – calling it “big bullsh*t” on X – in his second-round submission of Cody Brundage in Saturday’s UFC 300 main card opener.

Nickal’s rebuttal?

“The fact that he’s recognizing it and he sees what’s coming, too, I think that it’s good for everybody,” Nickal said on “The MMA Hour.” “Good for me, good for him, good for the sport. So, we’re going to make that fight happen. I would just, in response to that, yo, who were you fighting at 5-0, bro? Some random dude in Europe. Like, I’m fighting in the UFC, on UFC 300. So there’s levels to this.”

The “random dude in Europe” that Chimaev beat when he, too, was 5-0? None other than Ikram Aliskerov, who hasn’t lost since that 2019 knockout by Chimaev and is 2-0 in the UFC with two first-round knockouts.

Nickal kind of shot himself in the foot there with that remark.

Nickal believes a fight between him and Chimaev is inevitable. However, Chimaev is a lot further ahead in his UFC title campaign as he gears up for his No. 1 contender bout against former champion Robert Whittaker, which headlines the June 22 card in Saudi Arabia.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Bo Nickal explains callout of Anthony Hernandez at UFC 300: ‘I want to start fighting better guys’

Bo Nickal is ready for a step up in competition, and believes Anthony Hernandez is the right opponent.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] is ready for a step up in competition, and had a name on his mind immediately after defeating Cody Brundage at UFC 300.

Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) submitted Brundage (10-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC) in the second round of the pay-per-view opener, in what was another smothering performance from the undefeated wrestler. During his in-octagon post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Nickal called out Anthony Hernandez.

During a post-fight news conference, Nickal expanded upon why he chose to call out the UFC-ranked No. 12 middleweight.

“I just think that would be a fun fight, a great fight,” Nickal told reporters. “He’s a guy that has great cardio, wrestling, good striking – he’s well-rounded and got a big win in his last fight. Very shortly, if it’s not my next fight, it will be soon, but that’s the type of guys I want to be fighting.

“He was just a name that came to my mind because I watched his fight recently, but any of these guys around that ranking, around that part of the division are guys that I’m ready for.”

Nickal was his own worst critic after stopping Brundage. After the referee stopped the fight, Nickal immediately gave himself two thumbs down, because he expected to completely dominate the fight. There were a few intense moments in early striking exchanges that Nickal admitted he wanted to go for the knockout to win a $300K bonus, but ultimately got back to what he does best in the grappling department.

If the UFC wants to see him develop a little more before facing ranked opponents, Nickal is on board, but he sees “Fluffy” Hernandez as a solid next step up in competition.

“If I have to get a couple more fights before I’m fighting ranked guys, then that’s fine,” Nickal said. “That’s a discussion between myself and the UFC, but I want to start fighting better guys, and he’s a guy I see as a better fighter.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC 300 review, Holloway wins BMF title, Makhachev & McGregor return, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses the fallout of UFC 300 including, Holloway’s BMF win, McGregor’s return, and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate everything around UFC 300:

  • The UFC reached its 300th pay-per-view event, a big milestone for the Las Vegas-based promotion. Where does this massive event rank in UFC history? On paper, it was a great card, and it delivered as promised.
  • [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] arguably made the biggest statement on Saturday night. The former UFC featherweight champion knocked out [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] in brutal fashion with one second remaining in the fight for the BMF title. So what’s next for Holloway? Should he stay at 155 pounds or go back to 145? Holloway has many options after this career-defining win.
  • On top of Holloway’s win, there were several other important lightweight bouts, as well as other lightweight bookings announced: [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] defeated former champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag], [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] stopped Jalin Turner and [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] picked apart Jim Miller. Additionally, the [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] title defense vs. [autotag]Dutin Poirier[/autotag] was made official, along with the return of [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], who faces lightweight standout [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] in a welterweight bout. Big news and results that heavily impact the UFC lightweight division.
  • In the main event of UFC 300, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] successfully defended his light heavyweight belt for the very first time, knocking out [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]. It was a huge win for the Brazilian, who requested a heavyweight fight in a quick turnaround at UFC 301 in Brazil next month.
  • In the other undisputed title fight, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] defended her UFC strawweight belt against fellow Chinese fighter [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]. It was a solid showing by Weili, who logged the second title defense of her second championship reign.
  • [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] made a huge splash on Saturday night. In a dominant showing, she submitted former champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag], a victory that even caught the attention of former two-division UFC champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]. What’s next for Harrison? Is she a future UFC champion? We unpack it all.
  • Lastly, several other big storylines went down at UFC 300. The panel quickly reviews [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]’s featherweight debut, [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s submission win, [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]’ most recent first-round finish and more.

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Video: Future Champion? Breaking down Bo Nickal’s UFC 300 fight against Cody Brundage

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses everything around Bo Nickal’s fight at UFC 300.

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s fight at UFC 300.

The 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy winner competes for the third time in the octagon Saturday against Cody Brundage. In addition to being a one of the biggest prospects in MMA, Nickal enters UFC 300 with elevated attention, as he serves as the pay-per-view main card opener.

Is this spot deserved? Is Nickal a future star and champion?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, Dan Tom, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discussed everything about Nickal’s return to the octagon.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/fSjkR02NKpM

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Michael Bisping: ‘Bo Nickal has got the ability to be an American Khabib Nurmagomedov’

Michael Bisping sees massive star potential in Bo Nickal.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] sees massive star potential in [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag].

Nickal (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) opens up Saturday’s UFC 300 main card when he takes on Cody Brundage (10-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Bisping can see why many people and fighters on the card have taken umbrage with Nickal’s high placement on the card.

“I understand why some people may have an issue with that because it seems a far more prestigious position, right? You’re on the pay-per-view,” Bisping told MMA Fighting. “But if you take that logic, then if you’re Deiveson Figueiredo and Cody Garbrandt, then you’re really annoyed.

“If you’re Jessica Andrade, you’re fuming. If you’re Holly Holm, if you’re Aljamain Sterling, the greatest bantamweight of all time, guess what? There’s not enough room for everybody because the card’s that f*cking stacked.”

Bisping sees Nickal’s push by the UFC as an investment. He thinks the standout wrestler is on a similar path to greatness as Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Bo Nickal has the potential to go down as one of the greatest champions that we’ve ever seen – an American version of a Khamzat Chimaev or an Islam Makhachev or a Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Bisping said. “That’s the kind of pedigree that he has, and that’s what he’s shown so far.

“When you reach the level Bo Nickal has in wrestling, you’re a special kind of human being. … Bo Nickal has got the ability to be an American Khabib Nurmagomedov, and he’s a great guy. He’s phenomenal. He’s undefeated. The UFC know what they have on their hands.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Everything UFC 300 – Pereira vs. Hill, BMF title fight, Harrison’s debut, more

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses everything UFC 300.

Check out this week’s special edition of “Spinning Back Clique,” where we’ll be breaking down everything UFC 300.

This week’s panel will be composed of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia – along with appearances from Matt Wells, Mike Bohn, Farah Hannoun, Dan Tom, and Nolan King.

For this Monday’s special episode, the panel discussed:

  • The pair of undisputed UFC championship fights headlining UFC 300. In the main event, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] makes his first light heavyweight title defense against former champion  [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag], who returns from injury. In the co-main event, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] takes on fellow Chinese fighter [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] in a women’s strawweight bout.
  • The first-ever Baddest Motherf*cker title defense, as BMF champion [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] welcomes back [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] to the lightweight division. Other key lightweight bouts go down, including [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag], [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag].
  • Highly-touted undefeated middleweight prospect [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s return to action. He takes on Cody Brundage in the opening bout of the pay-per-view main card. This will be Nickal’s third fight under the UFC banner.
  • Two-time PFL champion and two-time Judo Olympic gold medalist [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] makes her highly awaited UFC debut. She takes on former champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] at bantamweight – a division Harrison will be debuting in. Harrison has previously fought at 155 and 145 pounds.
  • Former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] has moved up to featherweight. Veteran contender [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] welcomes him to the division.
  • To cap off the show, the panel will do a quick promo breakdown to hype up the four remaining bouts of the UFC 300 card. This includes [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag], [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag], [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag], and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag].

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Jon Anik defends Bo Nickal’s UFC 300 main card placement: ‘There’s just a different electricity’

Jon Anik justifies why Bo Nickal should be on the UFC 300 main card.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] justifies why [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] should be on the UFC 300 main card.

Nickal (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) opens up the April 13 main card against Cody Brundage (10-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, placing him above the likes of former champion Jiri Prochazka, former champ Aljamain Sterling and the UFC debut of two-time PFL winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.

The UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator argues that the lure surrounding standout wrestler Nickal warrants a main card spot, even though the matchup against Brundage may not be that intriguing.

“Khamzat Chimaev, I would even throw out there 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr., Bo Nickal – there’s just a different electricity when it comes to some of these guys,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “You parlay their fight style with the expectation, and the pressure, and the fan intrigue, and I just think Bo Nickal checks a lot of boxes.

“For us, when we get through our pay-per-view open, and we have that exhale moment, when we get to sit down and watch that first fight on pay-per-view with all the masses around the world, that’s a very strategic position on the card. It’s a prime slot. Maybe at times you don’t get as many people as seen on during the featured prelim on ESPN, but they don’t mess around when it comes to that first fight. I can’t necessarily speak to Cody Brundage and the decision to feature him against Bo Nickal.”

According to BetMGM, Nickal is a whopping -2100 favorite, meaning it would take a $2,100 bet on the rising star to return a $100 profit. Brundage is a +1100 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on the Factory X fighter would win $1,100 profit.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Jiri Prochazka unbothered by Bo Nickal’s UFC 300 main card spot over him

Jiri Prochazka isn’t concerned with being bumped down to the prelims of UFC 300.

[autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] isn’t concerned with being bumped down to the prelims at UFC 300.

Former light heavyweight champion Prochazka (29-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) meets Aleksandar Rakic (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in the April 13 featured prelim from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Rising star [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] opens up the main card, which caused plenty of outrage – but not for Prochazka.

“I was not surprised. I really don’t care about that,” Prochazka told Inside Fighting. “I just accept that. That’s my attitude. I accept that, and next time, from now till the next time, I will show that my fight will be on the main card or in the main event. That’s why I’m fighting. I want to show every time the beauties of the martial arts.”

Prochazka is on the road to reclaim his light heavyweight title. He opted to relinquish it after injuring his shoulder, and battled Alex Pereira for the vacant title in his return this past November at UFC 295. He was knocked out in Round 2.

In the main event of UFC 300, light heavyweight champion Pereira makes his first title defense against Jamahal Hill. With a win over top contender Rakic, Prochazka expects another opportunity at the belt.

“I believe in that, and I will do everything for that,” Prochazka said. “Because after last fight, after that decision, I believe I can be the champion, and I will.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC 300 fight card bout order adjusted slightly

Bo Nickal’s UFC 300 card placement has changed ever so slightly.

The UFC 300 bout order has been tweaked ever so slightly, but the change involves perhaps the most highly-debated initial placement.

During the UFC Fight Night 239 broadcast Saturday, the promotion announced [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag] will now open the April 13 main card at T-Mobile Arena. [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] will follow directly thereafter.

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The change comes seven days after the promotion first revealed the full fight card bout order during the UFC 299 main card broadcast March 9. The initial order had Nickal (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) vs. Brundage (10-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) above Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) vs. Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC), which sparked much discussion and debate among fans.

Brundage took the influx of online messages in stride, as he tweeted “Y’all mother f*ckers know I just work here, right?” Meanwhile, Nickal voiced confidence in the placement by saying his presence increases pay-per-view buys.

Regardless, Nickal, Brundage, Oliveira, and Tsarukyan will still be on the paid portion of the event, just a little earlier.

With the change, the UFC 300 fight card includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champion Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill – for light heavyweight title
  • Champion Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan – for women’s strawweight title
  • Champion Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway – for “BMF” title
  • Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
  • Cody Brundage vs. Bo Nickal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Holly Holm
  • Diego Lopes vs. Sodiq Yusuff
  • Renato Moicano vs. Jalin Turner
  • Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.