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Former UFC Champion Blasts Bo Nickal's 'Pathetic' Performance, 'This kid is not a fighter'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Aldon | Last updated May 8, 2025 12:08 AM ET

Retired athletes sometimes express frustration toward rising stars, a sentiment rooted in complex emotions and experiences. After years in the spotlight, stepping away can be tough, leading to feelings of being left behind. In MMA, especially, the old guard sometimes sees new fighters getting attention and feels that the sport has changed too much, losing the grit or respect they once valued as competitors. Some also worry that their hard-earned legacies are being overshadowed by hype or flashy newcomers. Whether or not the hate is warranted, those grudges can lead to harsh feelings and even harsher words.

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold didn’t mince words on a recent interview with Submission Radio after Bo Nickal’s shocking TKO loss to Reinier de Ridder at UFC Des Moines, bluntly declaring that Nickal lacks what it takes to make it to the next level.

“This kid Bo ‘Nicole’ is pretty pathetic. Talking a big game he was but he was looking for a way out from the first round on,” Rockhold said with disdain. “This kid just needs to shut up... I think Bo just quit like a little b—, it was kind of pathetic to see a kid talk all this game.”

Watch the full interview here:

This isn’t the first time Rockhold has taken aim at Nickal. Shortly after Nickal won his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2022, Rockhold said in an interview with the Schmo, “The kid looks good, but he fought a f— bum, so who the f— knows.”

Rockhold took to social media and simply posted the words, “Nickal sucks,” after Nickal lost this past weekend.

Rockhold, known for his unfiltered takes, doubled down on his criticism, suggesting Nickal’s wrestling pedigree doesn’t translate to MMA dominance, saying, “There is such a thing as competitors. Wrestlers can be competitors but they cannot be fighters all the time. This kid is not a fighter, he’s a competitor, and he’s really a p— at heart.”

While Nickal himself is taking his loss in stride and believes he can learn from his loss, the former UFC champ dismissed any possibility of Nickal improving.

“He doesn’t have it, he ain’t gonna have it. Even if he stuck to wrestling, he doesn’t have the wherewithal on the ground to put people away. The degree at the top is different.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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