Bo Nickal addresses postponement of Joe Pyfer fight

Bo Nickal flips the script on Joe Pyfer

Given Pyfer's momentum following his win over Israel Adesanya in March and persistent rumors linking him to UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Helwani acknowledged that a showdown with Nickal wasn't the matchup he expected to materialize next.

"I don't know what his options were; I heard he got offered to fight Fluffy [Anthony Hernandez]," Nickal said. "But he decided to fight me instead; I think it's a big opportunity for him to fight me. Everybody that fights me, it's a big opportunity for them, and that's part of being me."  

Joe Pyfer draws a line between privilege and perseverance

Pyfer joined the "Ariel Helwani Show" on Oct. 20 to explain the "rich kid vs. poor kid" mentality leading up to his matchup with Nickal. 

According to Pyfer, the contrast lies in their backgrounds. He believes his difficult climb through the ranks forged a stronger connection to the sport and a greater willingness to embrace adversity than Nickal has experienced.

“I just think I'm a little bit more of a dog than he is," Pfyer said. 

Bo Nickal welcomes the deep waters

The delay may ultimately benefit Nickal more than anyone. Instead of rushing into a three-round showcase, he's positioning himself for a five-round proving ground where he can show the relentless pace and gas tank that made him one of the most accomplished wrestlers of his generation.

Nickal didn't speak like a fighter concerned about an extra 10 minutes of cage time. He spoke like someone who believes every additional round allows him to widen the gap between himself and his opponent.