Bo Nickal expects to become a UFC champion one day, but he’s yet to actually make his debut after signing a four-fight deal with the promotion following his Contender Series run.
This is why three-time NCAA champ wrestler couldn’t help but laugh at the number of established wrestling legends talking about him lately.
Darren Till complimented Nickal’s potential while saying that he would love that fight some day so he could “drive a left hand through the skull .”. Chris Curtis, a middleweight contender said he wasn’t impressed with Nickal’s fights and that he doesn’t think the UFC should try to arrange that fight. However, he stated that he isn’t interested in fighting him now because there are safer fights for him to make to make HTML4 to fights that are to fights that could be to fights that would be Darren Till.
These were only a handful of examples. But Nickal continued to take it all in stride, and even giggled when he was responding to all the fighters that have been name-dropping Nickal lately.
“I just think it’s hilarious,” Nickal said. Why are all these people calling me out?” This is crazy stuff. High-school wrestlers are not eligible to compete in wrestling matches. That’s kind of what the equivalent is.
” They’re worried about me but that’s okay. Your time will come when I decide it. It doesn’t really matter what you think or say. It’s me who makes the calls. If I want to fight you, I’ll fight you.”
There’s no doubt Nickal is one of the best blue-chip prospects ever to transition to mixed martial arts. However, he still has much to learn before being considered an elite fighter.
As he develops those skills, Nickal is certain that he will only become more dangerous. Perhaps some UFC veterans who mention a possible fight against Nickal are trying to get him caught before he has fully developed.
“Yeah. It’s probably [that’s why they’re calling me out].” Nickal. It doesn’t really make a difference which way it goes. They are not happy .”
Right now, Nickal is simply getting ready to make his official UFC debut, with all signs pointing towards a showdown against Jamie Pickett at UFC 282 in December.
Nickal says nothing is set in stone yet because no contracts have been signed, but a fight with Pickett is the direction the UFC appears to be heading.
As of now, the promotion hasn’t made any official announcements of any kind regarding UFC 282, although there have been plenty of rumors about the fights that will fill that card, including a potential light heavyweight title fight rematch between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira.
While he will not be in the main event of the UFC, Nickal feels confident that they can use the star power Nickal has built on Contenders Series to give him a prominent spot on the last pay-per view card.
“I am not a prelim guy,” Nickal said with a laugh. “If I have to fight on the prelims, I’ll just retire. I’m done.
“I don’t know if it’s in the contract [that I have to fight on the main card], but they’ll do the right thing. They will do the right thing. I will retire if I am on the prelims. I’m out.”
The UFC has put ranked fighters and more established stars on the preliminary broadcast in the past to boost interest in an event and hopefully lead viewers to then purchase the pay-per-view. Nickal understands that could be a possibility, although he doesn’t expect the UFC to want him anywhere but the main card.
“I’ve seen a bigger fight on the prelims and stuff but I don’t know,” Nickal said. “I’m a main card guy. It doesn’t make sense. It’s Dana White’s Contender Series but I’m main-eventing Dana White’s Contender Series at 2-0. Each fight is a main-event. They’re putting me on the main card.”
Wherever the fight takes place, Nickal expects it to ultimately serve as a launching pad to a very busy year ahead after already fighting three times in 2022.
“Probably four [fights in the next year],” Nickal said. “I think I’m in the top 10, and by the middle of 2024, fighting for the belt.”
