Khamzat Chimaev dismisses Bo Nickal‘s challenge, stating that their wrestling styles are different and that he is focused on fighting top contenders rather than unknown opponents.
Khamzat Chimaev has responded to Bo Nickal’s challenge with indifference. Nickal publicly expressed his disappointment that he wasn’t offered as a replacement opponent for Chimaev at UFC 294. The undefeated Nickal, who transitioned from a successful collegiate wrestling career to MMA, has been making waves with his impressive performances. However, Chimaev is not easily swayed by his boasts.
During a media day interview, Chimaev dismissed Nickal’s callout, questioning his understanding of MMA. Chimaev emphasized that in MMA, wrestling is not about earning points but about inflicting damage. He confidently stated that Nickal wouldn’t dare attempt to take him down in the cage. Chimaev’s dismissiveness towards Nickal stemmed from his focus on his upcoming fight against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Chimaev then compared his wrestling skills to those of Khabib Nurmagomedov, highlighting their similar styles. Drawing on comparisons between Usman’s wrestling and Gaethje’s, Chimaev believed that his mountain wrestling, unlike American wrestling, would dominate his opponents. He asserted that his grappling prowess would be reminiscent of Khabib’s dominant performances in the octagon.
Despite his success in the UFC, Chimaev’s lack of activity in recent years has raised questions. Having debuted with three victories in three months in 2020, he has only fought twice since 2021. Chimaev revealed that he has been ready to compete but attributes his limited fights to the UFC’s matchmaking decisions. He expressed a desire to face the best fighters but feels that the organization prefers matchups with more recognizable names to generate revenue.
Overall, Chimaev remains unfazed by Nickal’s challenge and is solely focused on his upcoming bout. He believes in the superiority of his wrestling skills and hopes to make a lasting impact in the UFC by facing the top fighters in his division.