“I believe that no matter what happens, I might steal the spotlight,” Reiner De Ridder told this to MMA Junkie reporters with exuding confidence ahead of his fight against up-and-coming superstar Bo Nickal at the UFC Des Moines co-main event. Although the Dutch fighter has called out several big names after submitting Kevin Holland with a rear-naked choke at UFC 311, the promotion has decided to reward him with a popular name instead of a fighter ranked above him.
Bo Nickal, a highly accomplished grappler, didn’t attempt a single takedown in his last fight against a 36-year-old, Paul Craig. He was confident that Craig would not pose a single threat to him on the ground, despite the Scot’s elite-level jiu-jitsu skills. Nickal chose to keep the fight on his feet, aiming to demonstrate his improved striking.
The former two-weight One Champion, De Ridder believes that Nickal cannot afford to do the same against him. The Dutchman is confident of his improved grappling skills that he can make three-time NCAA champion resort to wrestle with him. De Ridder also finds Nickel’s antics during a fight little arrogant, and he wants to be the one to humble him, but in doing so, he also sees a reflection of his former-self.
Reiner De Ridder in an interview with MMA Junkie, said, “It would be fun to have some fun at the press conferences and stuff. But when I look at that arrogance that he kind of brings, I see some of myself a couple of years ago, and he has a lot of growing still do to. As a person and as a fighter, he has a lot of steps to make, maybe I can humble him a bit.”
Madison Square Garden NEW YORK CITY, NY -NOVEMBER 16:Bo Nickal and Paul Craig met in the octagon for a 3-round bout for UFC309 – Jones vs Miocic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, NY Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2411164260558_UFCVegas309
“So, I was at 16-0, who was finishing everybody. I thought it was god gift to fighting at some point, finishing everybody. They didn’t have any opponents for me anymore in my weight class and I was like why not heavyweight? Why not the biggest guy? They can put it in front of me and I got humbled a bit at that point. So yeah, everybody needs that in life at some point.”
This fight could be a pivotal moment for both of them. Nickal is currently 4-0 in the UFC, who is sure to get a ranking, if he manages to defeat De Ridder. On the other hand, De Ridder will get a high-profile opponent, such as a Marvin Vettori, Paulo Costa, or even Jared Cannonier as the next fight.
We might be clear about De Ridder’s motivations, but it is also important to understand Bo Nickal’s perspective to pick this fight out of all the possibilities.
Bo Nickal reveals why he is fighting Reiner De Ridder at UFC Des Moines
Bo Nickal is very aware of the fact that he’s considered one of the new-age UFC rising stars who has the potential to become something great. So, he meticulously understands how to pick his opponents. He wants a steady progression in his career and thinks Reiner De Ridder is a great option.
The Dutchman being a former champion in a mainstream promotion like One Championship has made Nickal interested in fighting him.
Talking to Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani show, Nickal revealed, “This is a matchup that I asked for, so I feel like it’s a matchup that’s exciting for a lot of reasons. He has had a lot of success in other organizations, had success in the UFC, and it’s a natural step up for me. I want to keep fighting better and better guys.”
Do you think Reiner De Ridder can stop Bo Nickal? Drop your thoughts below.
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