Bo Nickal is currently seen as one of the most formidable prospects in the UFC. Following his second victory, he boldly asserted that he possesses the skill to submit Khamzat Chimaev in a wrestling match.
Chimaev is undeniably one of the most menacing fighters in the UFC, even though he has been absent from the octagon for nearly a year. As the Chechen fighter seeks to secure a fight, fans have begun to speculate whether Bo could be the perfect opponent for Chimaev, especially given the American’s recent statements.
Bo Nickal claims to submit Khamzat Chimaev within a minute in wrestling showdown
During a recent interview with Michael Bisping, Nickal discussed his wrestling prowess and how it seamlessly translates to MMA. According to the middleweight fighter, his folk-style wrestling background provides the strongest application to mixed martial arts compared to any other combat sport, and this is an advantage he believes he holds over Khamzat Chimaev.
“I think that he is somebody that competes super hard and he has a good gas tank, he’s got a lot of dangerous weapons. He obviously has good grappling, he’s able to take a lot of guys down and control them there, I think that if we were to fight, there’s no way he takes me down,” Nickal said.
Bo emphasized that his wrestling skills complement the demands of MMA exceptionally well, giving him a unique edge over his opponents, including Chimaev. However, the three-time NCAA Division I National Champion also appreciated the Chechen fighter’s wrestling skills.
“I obviously respect his skills and MMA’s a completely different ball game if we were to wrestle in a match, it’s a joke like it’ll end in sub 60 seconds, I’ll kill that guy, and not even competitive but in a MMA fight, like I said, different ball game.” Bo added.
who do you give Bo Nickal next? pic.twitter.com/AZW6Z8DLWW
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 9, 2023
Bo Nickal destroys Val Woodburn in first round TKO win at UFC 290
Bo, who made a sensational UFC debut with an impressive victory against Jamie Pickett at UFC 285, continued his winning streak last week with another dominant performance. Competing at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the 27-year-old middleweight fighter secured a brutal first-round knockout against Valentine Woodburn.
I can’t stop watching this Bo Nickal KO
pic.twitter.com/uZQbYxrdZV— ᴍᴍᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴄᴜs 🏝️ (@mmamarcuss) July 10, 2023
Around a year ago, Bo Nickal marked his entry into the world of mixed martial arts by defeating Zachary Borrego and Donovan Beard in Dana White’s Contender Series – Contender Series 2022.
Do you think Bo Nickal has the qualities to be a middleweight title contender in the future? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
