UFC legend Matt Brown defends Bo Nickal, arguing that his loss to Reinier de Ridder doesn’t diminish his potential, as Nickal is still learning and has a promising future in MMA.
Bo Nickal has a lot to learn. But losing to Reinier de Ridder doesn’t mean he was just hype. According to UFC legend Matt Brown, the commentary following Nickal’s loss was frustrating.
Nickal, after a perfect 7-0 start, faced defeat for the first time against the seasoned de Ridder. It was a tough night at UFC Des Moines. Nickal was dropped and finished with a brutal body shot in the second round.
“It really frustrated me,” Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “People calling it a ‘fraud check’? Get outta here.” Brown insists that de Ridder deserves credit. He looked every bit the two-weight world champion from ONE.
Nickal, on the other hand, faced a champion he wasn’t ready for. It’s tough for a newcomer like him to be thrown to the wolves. He’s had winnable fights before, but de Ridder showed where Nickal needs improvement.
Brown believes criticizing Nickal undermines de Ridder’s performance. Known for grappling, de Ridder’s striking shone as he battered Nickal’s body. That knee to the midsection ended Nickal’s undefeated run.
“Reinier de Ridder is a great fighter,” Brown said. Nickal knows wrestling, but de Ridder’s well-rounded skills were evident. Nickal is still learning the ropes in MMA.
Some argue Nickal brought this on himself with bold claims. Past quotes about beating Khamzat Chimaev and grappling with de Ridder resurfaced. Yet, Brown sees this loss as a potential benefit for Nickal.
“Stop with the fraud check nonsense,” Brown urged. Nickal’s hype is real. If he sticks with it, he’ll be back, possibly stronger. The loss might push him to improve, which could be the best outcome for him.
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