UFC Des Moines featured incredible fights that kept the fans on their toes with nonstop action and dramatic momentum swings. It also had unexpected results, like Bo Nickal ’s shocking loss against Reinier de Ridder, which stunned the crowd and analysts alike. With the loss, the All-American saw his undefeated streak snapped, marking a pivotal moment in his young career trajectory.
Nickal is a wrestling superstar and has an incredible fan following despite having a small UFC career. The result started a debate around American wrestling and its effectiveness in modern MMA, stirring passionate responses across the fighting community. Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo talked about the fight in a social media post and tried to motivate Nickal.
The wrestling world has taken a hit today. Keep your head up @NoBickal this is not the end. I got finished by Demetrious Johnson with a similar body shot and I went on to avenge that loss and become champion. You are capable of doing the same. Get back on your horse brother.
Henry Cejudo via X
Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist and a proud American wrestler, built his MMA legacy by becoming a double champion. The incident he mentioned took place at UFC 197, where he lost to Demetrious Johnson via TKO. Later, he came back to take his revenge and become a champ. Nickal has an immense respect for Cejudo, and this message would really help him.
Ahead of the fight, Nickal was as usual, confident about beating Reinier de Ridder and continuing his middleweight run. However, the former One Championship title holder exposed Nickal’s gaps through pressure and versatile skill in all departments. Nickal secured an early takedown attempt, yet de Ridder countered effortlessly, using size and technique to neutralize wrestling dominance with composure.
De Ridder stayed calm during scrambles, landing elbows and attacking submissions, constantly forcing Nickal into defense without allowing any advancement. In the second round, a sharp knee to Nickal’s liver stunned him, creating an opening for RDR to finish. This forced the referee to stop the fight and declare de Ridder the winner.
Bo Nickal gets roasted for his devastating loss against Reinier de Ridder
Bo Nickal had a whopping 120-3 collegiate record, making him one of America’s greatest amateur wrestlers ever. He won three NCAA championships and four Big Ten titles, leading Penn State’s dynasty and setting a standard for wrestling. Nickal earned the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy, honoring him as college wrestling’s most dominant and technically proficient competitor.
Following that success, Nickal made his move to UFC and earned the contract by winning at Dana White ‘s Contender Series. He immediately got a boost from the UFC and started getting featured in top UFC pay-per-view events. However, with his recent loss, many experts, such as Dillon Danis , have brutally mocked Nickal.
One of the best American wrestlers of all time, Bo Nickal, ended up on his knees in the fetal position, gave up from body shots and didn’t even go out fighting on his shield. When I say these guys aren’t on my level, I’m never wrong.
Dillon Danis via X
Bo Nickal has proudly promoted American wrestling in MMA, often claiming its superiority over the dominant Dagestani wrestling style worldwide. He frequently engaged in verbal spats with Dagestani fighters, calling their style overrated and dismissing their grappling as one-dimensional tactics. This arrogance has often backfired, putting him in hot water, and his recent loss doesn’t necessarily help in this situation either.
In the past, he has talked about beating the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov in a wrestling match with ease. On top of that, he claimed Khamzat Chimaev ‘s wrestling was trash and wanted to fight the ‘Borz’ to prove his point. However, Chimaev is currently the top title contender and Nickal just faced his first UFC defeat.
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