Bo Nickal has a couple of concepts about his subsequent opponent within the UFC, however doesn’t count on to face one other extremely touted prospect like Shara “Bullet” Magomedov.
Coming off a win over Paul Craig at UFC 309, Nickal is already trying in the direction of the longer term with hopes to quickly face some ranked competitors as he continues to evolve and progress in his profession. Whereas there are many names out there within the high 15, the three-time NCAA champion wrestler is aware of the UFC gained’t feed him a pure striker like Magomedov simply but as a result of they’d be killing off one in all their most hyped fighters with each of them sporting comparable undefeated data within the octagon.
“They wouldn’t match it up,” Nickal stated in regards to the battle when chatting with the Pound-for-Pound podcast. “It could be a simple battle however for me, there’s no downside in that battle. However let’s discuss it realistically.”
With regards to opponents the UFC may take into account, Nickal believes he’s reached the purpose the place the rankings are a pure subsequent step, however he’s not capturing for the moon when fascinated with opponents.
Whereas he stopped brief from calling anyone out specifically, Nickal threw out a couple of ideas primarily based on the fighters who at the moment occupy spots within the backside a part of the middleweight rankings.
“Any man within the high 15, from [No. 15 to 10], is a tricky battle,” Nickal stated. “There’s no person within the UFC that isn’t good, proper? You may take any of those guys, even these guys that I’m knocking out and destroying, put them on a regional promotion they usually’re an all-star. They’re the perfect man in the complete group. It’s one thing for me, I’m completely excited to battle all the perfect guys. Anyone within the 10 to fifteen vary poses fascinating assessments, fascinating threats.
“I don’t know the highest 15 precisely however I’m considering guys like [Michel] Pereira, Anthony Hernandez is there, Shara Bullet, [Roman] Kopylov, [Roman] Dolidze, [Paulo] Costa. Even a man I do know he bounces up and down from 170 to [185 pounds] however Kevin Holland, he’s acquired lots of knockout wins. So guys like that, all of them pose fascinating threats. They’re all guys I may have bother with however on the identical time, I imagine in my talent set, I imagine in what I’m able to doing and as I proceed to coach, and work extra on the placing, work extra on the jiu-jitsu and mixing all of it collectively, I believe I may dominate lots of these guys and make it look straightforward.”
As a lot as Nickal needs to succeed in his final purpose of changing into UFC middleweight champion after which finally conquering the highest of the pound-for-pound rankings, he’s additionally fast to keep in mind that he barely has any expertise in comparison with lots of the opponents he’s going to be going through quickly.
That’s one cause why Nickal was really completely satisfied he spent quarter-hour within the octagon with Craig at UFC 309 as a result of it gave him priceless time and expertise after he primarily tore via his first few opponents with none actual resistance.
Now as he plans to sort out the highest 15 fighters on the planet, Nickal understands there’s no room for error.
“I’ve been combating MMA professionally simply over two years,” Nickal stated. “I began within the late summer time of 2022 and now I’m the featured bout at [Madison Square Garden] the tip of 2024. So the place am I going to be on the finish of 2026? I believe the trajectory is de facto excessive and all I’ve acquired to do is keep on that very same path.
“I do know the work that I put in on a regular basis. I don’t assume anybody places in as a lot work as me not solely once I’m trying on the bodily, technical coaching facet of it however the movie research and simply making an attempt to develop my battle IQ, I don’t assume anyone watches as a lot movie as I do. I believe that’s the place I’m making up lots of floor on these guys and I’ll proceed to make up floor.”
