Bo Nickal’s claim that he would be a massive favorite to beat Khamzat Chimaev has resurfaced following his first UFC defeat.
NCAA wrestling legend Nickal was brutally knocked out by Reinier De Ridder in the co-main event of UFC Des Moines on Saturday night to lose his unbeaten record. This has led to widespread criticism from fans who feel that he was too brash throughout his early run without earning a top spot.
One moment that seems to symbolise this is a claim he made while speaking to Ariel Helwani that he would be a monstrous favorite in an eventual clash with Chimaev. He believed that by the time they do meet, his record will be so impressive that the Swede will pale in comparison.
Bo Nickal claimed he could be a massive favorite to beat Khamzat Chimaev
During an explosive interview on The MMA Hour back in April of last year following UFC 300, Bo Nickal sensationally claimed that he would ‘rag doll’ Khamzat Chimaev if they fought. The undefeated Swede has rarely looked troubled in the octagon to date, while Nickal at the time was just starting out.
However, the real quote that is doing the rounds on social media is his claim that when they fight he will have been so dominant that Chimaev is a betting underdog to an unprecedented level going into the event.
“I think he sees what’s coming too,” Nickal said during a perhaps ill-advised interview. “I think that it’s good for everybody, good for me, good for him, good for the sport so we’re going to make that fight happen.
“Who were you fighting at 5-0 bro? Some random dude in Europe. I’m fighting in the UFC at UFC 300 so there’s levels to this. I think that people need to get to know me and the more they get to know me the more they’re going to realize that ‘hey I’m that guy’.
“There’s nothing that anybody else can do about that. I wouldn’t be surprised if when we fight I’m like a -1000 favorite same as I have been in all these other fights.”
Fans delight in Bo Nickal being ‘fraud checked’ at UFC Des Moines
The audacity of his comments about Chimaev has led to Nickal taking a lot of abuse from fans on social media. They continue to use the term ‘fraud checked’ to describe his loss, despite the fact that he was taking on a decorated ONE Championship double-champion.
“I see a lot of ‘don’t be so harsh on Bo Nickal I don’t understand the hate’ right now on here,” wrote YouTuber MMA Guru on X. “People are completely ignoring the reality of why Bo said SO much about top contenders man…”
Another fan added: “Problem with this kind of confidence is when you lose you become an absolute laughing stock.”