NEW YORK – “Boo”? How about “Bo”?
Bo Nickal mentioned (with a smile) the sound radiated at him by practically 20,000 followers at UFC 309 at Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday may very well be up for interpretation.
“I used to be pumped,” Nickal instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a post-fight information convention. “They have been like, ‘Bo-ooooo.’ What number of instances does MSG chant your title for that lengthy? So I’m pumped about it. It was nice.”
One of the vital highly-touted up-and-comers within the UFC, Nickal’s efficiency was seen by some as underwhelming as a consequence of its lack of pleasure. Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and opponent Paul Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) largely point-fought all through their lackluster affair that resulted in a unanimous determination win for the previous.
However for Nickal, he handed the self-assessment. The previous Pennsylvania State College wrestling standout was joyful to go quarter-hour for the primary time as a professional MMA fighter.
“Undoubtedly, it’s method higher for me and my improvement,” Nickal mentioned. “Should you have a look at my cage time and what I had earlier than this, I over-doubled it, for certain. That’s one thing that for me I’ve actually cornered myself with this repute of a man who finishes them and destroys them – as a result of that’s when the expectation is about. My expectation is to compete to one of the best of my capability at one hundred pc effort. It’s not something to do with the end result. It doesn’t matter: selections, submissions, knockouts. I’m undoubtedly not dissatisfied with this end result. I used to be far more dissatisfied with my final battle and I subbed the man. This battle for me was picture-perfect.”
It’s not all about losses for Nickal. It’s extra concerning the course of. Not capturing for a single takedown by way of three rounds of combating was a procedural milestone for him.
“Truthfully, I don’t assume I ever imagined that. But it surely’s a very cool factor and I feel it’s an ideal testomony to my coaches and my group, all of my coaches. … If I didn’t have these individuals, I simply wouldn’t have the abilities and the bottom I do proper now, so I’m very lucky to be round these guys. I feel for it’s one thing I really feel a number of pleasure in as a result of it’s not one thing I noticed myself doing beforehand. Now, I do know I can battle that method if I must.”
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