Dricus du Plessis closely observed the recent reality check delivered to Bo Nickal.
Leading up to UFC Des Moines, Nickal held a flawless 7-0 professional MMA record, built on his decorated background as a three-time NCAA wrestling champion. He entered the fight as the favorite against the more seasoned Reinier de Ridder, yet it was de Ridder who emerged victorious via a second-round knockout, initiated by a damaging knee to Nickal`s body.
Du Plessis stated he wasn`t surprised to see de Ridder hand Nickal his first defeat. He suggested that the public`s reaction to Nickal`s loss, which included some satisfaction, was influenced as much by Nickal`s self-promotion as by his performance in the octagon.
Reflecting on Bo, du Plessis noted his limited number of fights in the UFC. “You must be mindful of how you speak in this sport,” du Plessis advised. “You earn the right to talk when you`ve proven yourself. The opponents he faced before were not top contenders. It`s different talking confidently versus criticizing championship bouts or dismissing others` wrestling or victories. A dose of humble pie serves a person well, and I believe he received a generous helping. Frankly, it was satisfying to watch because you shouldn`t disrespect those who have achieved what you aspire to. He exuded an aura of `I am champion, no one can out-wrestle me,` focusing entirely on wrestling. But this isn`t wrestling,” du Plessis emphasized, “this is fighting.”
He continued, “This is fighting. And in my honest assessment, that knee, though solid, led to Bo Nickal essentially quitting. He was mentally broken. That`s why he dropped to a knee. The knee didn`t knock him unconscious; it landed effectively, yes, but if strikes like that put you down, success at the highest level will be challenging, as the impacts there are significantly harder.”
During his rise, Nickal spoke with immense confidence about his capabilities, even suggesting he could easily dispatch top contenders like Khamzat Chimaev. However, his prior wins against Paul Craig and Cody Brundage, while victories, still showed glimpses of inexperience where he wasn`t entirely dominant.
Du Plessis believes Nickal learned that success in this sport demands much more than being world-class in just one discipline.
“I have no issue with Bo Nickal getting hyped up,” du Plessis stated. “My concern is when he talks about individuals who have accomplished things he hasn`t yet. He`s a three-time NCAA champion, if I recall correctly. But as I`ve said, this isn`t wrestling, my friend, and he learned that lesson the hard way.”
“I think he expected to simply overpower Reinier,” du Plessis speculated. “I thought Reinier executed a brilliant strategy. What I find impressive about Reinier de Ridder is that he presents a difficult matchup and is a truly skilled fighter.”
De Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, improved his UFC record to 3-0 with this unexpected victory. Du Plessis was highly complimentary of “The Dutch Knight,” particularly highlighting that de Ridder proved superior both on the feet and on the ground.
Du Plessis recognized Nickal was in trouble from the moment he failed to impose his wrestling dominance in the fight`s opening round.
“[De Ridder] transitioned, took Bo down, and as soon as they returned to their feet, Bo Nickal looked visibly exhausted, completely out of his element,” du Plessis observed. “This is because his wrestling is the sole aspect that has carried him through previous fights, and suddenly, that primary weapon wasn`t working for him. His takedown attempts were defended, *he* was being taken down, and he faced an opponent with a more extensive skillset, given that [Nickal`s] striking is poor. He isn`t a strong grappler overall; he is specifically a phenomenal *wrestler*.”
