Normally, a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter has to overcome hard work to get to the UFC. However, from time to time athletes emerge who, due to their achievements in other fighting disciplines, attract the attention of Dana White, the company’s CEO. This is the case of Bo Nickal (6-0). Although he has only had three fights in the UFC, his performances are already making him talk about as future applicant. This weekend, at UFC 309, he will face Paul Craiga veteran who represents a leap in level compared to his previous challenges.
The 28-year-old has his base in Olympic wrestling, a modality in which he achieved numerous successes. Among them, the 2019 U23 World Championship and the US Open National Championship stand out. With this resume, only two amateur fights and one more professional fight were enough for him to be called to Dana White’s Contender Series, a place where athletes have the opportunity to obtain a contract for the UFC.
After two impeccable performances in these events, the CEO of the UFC gave him a contract, despite his poor 3-0 record. He made his official debut in March 2023 against Jamie Pickett. The nerves of the premiere did not manifest themselves, and in less than three minutes He submitted his rival by arm triangle. In their second duel, the American showed that fighting is not his only weapon. With a guided right hand to the chin of Val Woodburn, he knocked him out in less than 40 seconds of the first round.
The excitement for the young promise was palpable, he was beginning to sell and the UFC knew it. An example of this is that Nickal was present on the main poster of UFC 300, above former champions like Deiveson Figueiredo or Jiří Procházka. In this fight he again finished his rival, but by not doing so in the first round he left the fans, who were waiting for a new Khamzat Chimaev, a little cold.
This Saturday morning he will have a tough nut to crack. Paul Craig has long been at the top of the middleweight division (185 pounds or 83.9 kilos). Furthermore, among the Scotsman’s skills, his grappling (gripping techniques) stands out above the rest, one of the best in category. This causes Nickal’s usual takedown strategy to be undermined by the danger that Craig poses on the ground.
If he wins with a good performance, he could climb and get into the top 15 even though his rival is out of the ranking. Without a doubt, this fight represents a trial by fire in Nickal’s career, and will help see if the opportunities that the UFC has given him were justified, or on the contrary it will be one of those promises that fell far short of what was expected.
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