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Rising UFC star Bo Nickal has quickly become one of the most talked-about prospects in mixed martial arts. Known for his wrestling prowess and striking skills, Nickal has made an immediate impact in the sport, earning a massive following. In a recent interview with Sports Tak, Nickal discussed his surprising journey to the UFC, the mental challenges of being a top prospect, his fight preparation, and his thoughts on potential future matchups. I
Getting the UFC Call After Just One Fight
Nickal’s rapid ascent in the MMA world has taken many by surprise, including himself. Reflecting on receiving an offer from the UFC after just one fight, Nickal admitted it was an unexpected opportunity. He told Sports Tak “That was a pretty incredible experience. You know, I didn’t expect that to happen. My thought was I was probably gonna have to get, you know, 10 or so fights before I was given an opportunity like that. And so after it came with one fight, I had to consider a lot of things, but I felt like I was ready for the opportunity, so we went for it.”
Coping with the Pressure of Being a Big Prospect
With his rapid rise has come a significant amount of pressure. As one of the UFC’s most anticipated fighters, Nickal is no stranger to high expectations. “It does, you know, it definitely comes with added expectations from people. I do a lot of mental work and a lot of work on my spirit to be just calm and confident under all this pressure. At the end of the day, I just kind of feel like I’m put in this position for a reason, and it’s my choice," Nickal told Sports Tak
Nickal emphasizes that if the pressure ever becomes too much, he always has the option to walk away. “If I don’t want this pressure anymore, I can always just quit and do something else. But I love it, and I enjoy it. And I have to remind myself of that sometimes if I’m feeling a lot of weight. But at the end of the day, it’s something that I take and try, and I enjoy the challenges that it brings," he explained
Striking Skills on Display
While wrestling is Nickal’s primary strength, he’s also earned respect for his striking abilities. One of the highlights of his young career came when he scored a 38-second knockout in his debut fight. “You honestly can’t really explain it that well, but it’s a great feeling. For me, that just represented the culmination of a lot of hard work I’ve been putting in training, and hopefully, I’ll continue to have moments like that in the future," he concluded.
American Freestyle vs. Dagestani Wrestling
When asked to compare American freestyle wrestling to Dagestani wrestling, Nickal, who has an extensive background in the former, expressed a preference for his style. “I think there are pros and cons to both, but I’d have to go with American wrestling because I feel like the controlling aspects of it and the amount we compete, the pressure that we compete under regularly, the big crowds, things of that nature just help so much with MMA.”
Nickal also pointed out that American wrestlers are increasingly transitioning to MMA, and he’s excited to see how they perform. “Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot more high-level guys transition over to MMA, and I’m excited to see how they’ll do.”
A Hypothetical Fight with Khamzat Chimaev
One of the most exciting hypothetical matchups in the UFC is a fight between Nickal and Khamzat Chimaev, a rising star in the welterweight and middleweight divisions. Nickal is enthusiastic about the prospect of such a fight.
He said “I think that would be an amazing fight. I’ve always looked at Khamzat as one of the top guys in the sport, and for a fight like that, I would be really, really pumped up for.”
Nickal acknowledged that Chimaev is currently ahead of him in the rankings, but he’s determined to catch up. “He’s quite a ways ahead of me as far as the rankings go and his career path, but I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard and catching up and eventually making that fight happen.”
Preparing for His Upcoming Fight
Looking ahead to his next challenge, Nickal is focused on refining his skills in all aspects of MMA. He stated “This has been a long, difficult training camp for me. I’ve been putting in a lot of time and effort in the cage, and I’ve really focused on overall development—not just one specific area, but as a whole.” He’s been working on his stand-up game, grappling, and, of course, continuing to improve his wrestling.
Regarding his upcoming opponent, Paul Craig, Nickal is well aware of the dangers Craig presents. “Paul Craig is a dangerous opponent. He has submission wins over some of the top guys in the sport,” Nickal said. “But at the same time, I feel comfortable and confident no matter where the fight goes.”
A Message to Fans in India
Nickal has a large international fanbase, including a growing following in India, where MMA has seen a surge in popularity. “I really appreciate the fans watching me, and it means a lot to have anybody watch me fight, I’m looking forward to putting together special moments in the future, not only in this fight but in all my fights," said Nickall
He also shared his respect for Indian wrestling, having trained with several Indian wrestlers throughout his career. “Shout out to Indian Wrestling, I’ve trained with many Indian wrestlers, and I respect them a lot.”
