Des Moines, IA — Middleweight Bo Nickal has been feeling the love in Des Moines this week, despite having defeated any number of Iowa-based wrestlers during his NCAA collegiate wrestling career with Penn State.
“What it comes down to is, the wrestling community is super tight-knit and sticks together. And that’s what I represent,” Nickal (7-0) said during Wednesday’s UFC Des Moines media day. The three-time NCAA Division I champ faces Reinier de Ridder inside the octagon this Saturday. “I represent myself, my family, Penn state. But I also support wrestling, and I’m really happy to do that. So I feel a lot of love and support from the people that maybe weren’t the biggest fans of me in college, but want to support me moving into MMA.”
Reinier de Ridder is a former ONE Championship double-champ who is 2-0 since joining the UFC last year. He’s known for his submission prowess, but Nickal appears to have scouted “The Dutch Knight” in all areas.
“When we look at de Ridder, we can obviously talk about the jiu-jutsu. His many, many submission finishes and different submissions. He’s got very creative on the ground, so that’s something that I look at. High-level skills,” observed Nickal. “He’s also got a judo black belt, so he’s a guy that also uses that to his advantage in the clinch, being able to throw people. Then when I look at his striking, I think he’s got a really good jab, straight left hand is pretty solid, but at the same time I think he makes a lot of mistakes in all areas. On the ground, in the clinch, on the feet, and so that’s something that I’ll look to exploit, and I feel with the game plan that my team and I have set, I’ll be able to do that.”
Noting that de Ridder is a bigger middleweight, Nickal revealed that he “did a little bulk up this camp.” As for the Dutch star’s submission game, Nickal, who kept his fight against Paul Craig standing up, isn’t adverse to hitting the mat.
“I’m definitely prepared to go to the ground with the grappling. I think that that’s something that I would be excited to do.” Nickal spent part of his camp working with Gordan Ryan, Garry Tonon and others prepping his BJJ. “If we go to the ground, I’ll be prepared, and I think that would be a fun challenge for me.”
Watch Bo Nickal’s full UFC Des Moines media day appearance above.
