Bo Nickal on Khamzat Chimaev: “The Guy is Exceptional”

Bo Nickal Prepares for UFC 309 – Plans to Develop at a Measured Pace

With UFC 309 just around the corner, fans are gearing up for the main event showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, and the co-main event featuring Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler. Another highly anticipated bout on the card is the middleweight clash between Bo Nickal and Paul Craig. The undefeated American Nickal has made waves in the organization, and some believe he might be the one capable of halting Khamzat Chimaev’s rise. However, Nickal is taking his time in the division, carefully working his way up the ranks, while Chimaev is likely nearing a middleweight title shot in the near future.

Impressed by Chimaev’s Skills

Though Nickal and Chimaev are currently on different career trajectories, Nickal’s name often comes up in discussions about potential challengers who could neutralize the Swedish-Chechen’s dominant wrestling. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Nickal was asked if he’s impressed by Chimaev’s wrestling and grappling abilities. Nickal admitted that he’s highly impressed by Chimaev’s skills, noting that his admiration began with Chimaev’s UFC debut.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with him, I think ever since I saw his first fight in the UFC during COVID in Abu Dhabi. I thought, ‘This guy is exceptional,’” Nickal said.

He went on to praise Chimaev’s grappling, especially considering his performance against Robert Whittaker.

“In grappling, he’s definitely at the highest level in MMA, and we saw what he did against an extremely tough guy in Robert Whittaker. No one can take that away from him,” Nickal stated.

Nickal’s Path to Readiness

Nickal understands the UFC community’s interest in a potential fight with Chimaev, but he remains grounded. While he believes he could match Chimaev’s wrestling and grappling, he’s realistic about the work required before he can challenge such a formidable opponent. Acknowledging that he and Chimaev are at different stages in their careers, Nickal is still confident in his own skills and has ideas on how he’d handle Chimaev’s intensity.

“When I look at my wrestling, I don’t see anyone who has the quality or potential to reach me there. I have no doubts that I can take down anyone. I believe that as my submission grappling game improves, I’ll be able to make anyone tap,” Nickal asserted.

UFC 309: Full Fight Card

Main Card (Starts at 10:00 PM ET):

Main Event: Jon Jones (c) vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC Heavyweight Title Fight
Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler – Lightweight Bout
Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig – Middleweight Bout
Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva – Women’s Flyweight Bout
Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop – Lightweight Bout

Preliminary Card (Starts at 8:00 PM ET):

Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee – Bantamweight Bout
Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders – Middleweight Bout
Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson – Lightweight Bout

Early Prelims (Starts at 6:00 PM ET):

Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz – Heavyweight Bout
Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj – Welterweight Bout
Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott – Welterweight Bout
Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura – Women’s Flyweight Bout

Note: Times and match-ups are subject to change.

As Nickal gears up for his fight against Paul Craig, fans are eager to see how his skills stack up against a seasoned opponent. A strong performance could further solidify his status as a rising star in the middleweight division, bringing him closer to potential showdowns with elite fighters like Chimaev.

Source: MMAnytt.se

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