Bo Nickal gets UFC-ranked opponent for Des Moines showdown
Bo Nickal is taking a significant step up in competition. At UFC Fight Night on May 3, held at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will face former ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a three-round middleweight bout.
Nickal’s meteoric rise in UFC
Nickal, 29, transitioned from collegiate wrestling to MMA and has been making waves in the middleweight division. The 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy winner entered MMA with an elite wrestling background and aims to add UFC gold to his resume.
After securing two victories on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, he signed with the UFC and has since scored dominant finishes over Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage. He then faced Paul Craig at UFC 300, winning by unanimous decision, but received criticism for a lackluster performance.
De Ridder: An elite grappler with championship experience
De Ridder, 34, established himself as one of ONE Championship’s top fighters, holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles. However, after suffering back-to-back losses to Anatoly Malykhin, he left the organization due to inactivity and contractual disputes.
Following a submission win in UAE Warriors, De Ridder signed with the UFC in 2024. Since then, he has notched two straight submission victories over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland, proving he remains a dangerous force in the division.
🚨 Your official main, co main and a homecoming for a fan favorite at UFC Iowa on May 3rd
– Deiveson Figueiredo vs Cory Sandhagen (Main Event)
– Reinier De Ridder vs Bo Nickal (Co Main)
– Jeremy Stephens vs Mason Jones (155)Confirmed by UFC CBO Hunter Campbell pic.twitter.com/wlrn935UBU
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) March 13, 2025
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“The Most Astonishing Power” – Khamzat Chimaev’s Impact
Khamzat Chimaev’s title chase puts Nickal on hold
Many fans have speculated about a future showdown between Nickal and Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), but that fight is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Chimaev is instead expected to fight reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis later this year.
Chimaev defeated Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023, winning via majority decision. He followed that up with another strong performance at UFC 297, securing a dominant unanimous decision victory over Jared Cannonier. With his sights set on championship gold, Chimaev is currently preparing for a likely title fight against Du Plessis.
What’s next?
A win over De Ridder would be a huge statement for Nickal, pushing him closer to title contention. However, he still needs to defeat top-ranked contenders before he can earn a potential fight against Chimaev.
For now, Chimaev is focused on securing UFC gold, while Nickal is determined to prove he belongs among the division’s elite.
What do you think?
Can Bo Nickal become a legitimate title challenger in the near future? Or is Khamzat Chimaev simply on another level? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Source: MMAnytt.se
