Bo Nickal’s loss to Reinier de Ridder has break up the MMA world totally.
De Ridder stopped Nickal at UFC Des Moines this previous weekend, handing the American his first-career defeat towards the percentages.
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Nickal, 29, has subsequently been on the receiving finish of a unending provide of on-line hate, with many followers revelling in his defeat.
British MMA legend Michael Bisping believes the response has gotten uncontrolled.
Nevertheless, UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who guidelines Nickal’s division, had a barely totally different view on the topic.
Bisping defined on his podcast, alongside ex-UFC fighter Paul Felder: “Bo Nickal is getting slaughtered on-line. He is getting a lot sh**.
“We each met Bo Nickal. He is a very nice man, he is respectful. In fact, he was assured and rightly so, given his wrestling credentials and what he has completed in one of many hardest sports activities on the planet.”
Nickal is a three-time NCAA Division I nationwide champion, having represented the US in freestyle wrestling at a number of world and nationwide championships.
“While you put your self on the market and also you say you are going to do that, that, and the opposite,” Bisping added.
“‘I might be a favourite towards Khamzat [Chimaev],’ OK, you are allowed a bit of little bit of backlash, however holy s***, holy s*** individuals are coming after him so arduous.
“He is come via the UFC. He was undefeated, and I feel a few of the backlash is as a result of folks understand that he was getting ‘Dana White privilege.’
“However I disagree. He went on the Contender (Collection), they did not give him a contract as a result of it was too early in his profession, he needed to come again twice, and went undefeated.
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“This (de Ridder) matchup was a extremely dangerous matchup…he is realized, he is simply so inexperienced.
“Additionally, whenever you take a look at the dimensions of them each, Reinier de Ridder is gigantic. He’s 6’4”. I heard it on good authority…
“They referred to as out Reinier de Ridder. They had been supplied one other matchup, however [they said], ‘We wish [de Ridder].’ It is like, bro, the man’s now 20-2 with world-class jiu-jitsu. You might need s*** the mattress on that one.”
De Ridder was certainly evidently the larger man when the pair got here to blows in Iowa, however Nickal discovered transient success on the canvas early on.
Nevertheless, he shortly realised that de Ridder was a critical risk when the Dutchman escaped within the clinch and ended up on high after being dragged to the bottom.
From then onwards, de Ridder oozed confidence and located his rhythm as Nickal’s proper ear was busted open.
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In spherical two, he got here out swinging with some violent knees and several other damaging punches to the top.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Nickal was caught with a nasty knee to the top that despatched him straight to at least one knee and his zero was now not.
South African Du Plessis was a bit of extra according to the bulk along with his response to Nickal’s defeat.
“I’ve no downside with Bo Nickal’s hype,” he mentioned. “However I do have an issue with is how he was speaking about individuals who have completed what he has by no means completed.
“This isn’t wrestling, my good man, and he discovered the arduous manner. I feel he thought he was going to stroll via Reinier (de Ridder)…
“The one factor that saves him in each combat is his wrestling, and now that one factor isn’t working for him.
“Now your takedowns are getting stuffed, and also you’re getting taken down as a result of the opposite man has extra in his arsenal, and [Nickal’s] putting is horrible…
“Humble pie does great issues for a person and I feel he received served full pies.
“It was satisfying to observe as a result of you’ll be able to’t simply disrespect individuals who’ve completed what you want you would do. For this, he had this aura of, ‘I’m champion, I can outwrestle anybody.’
“In my trustworthy opinion, that knee – it was a correct knee – [but] Bo Nickal gave up. Bo Nickal was damaged mentally. That is why he took a knee.”
De Ridder will now be eyeing up a shot at a high 10 middleweight, with studies suggesting a combat with former champ and No. 5 at 185lbs Robert Whittaker is already within the works.
Nickal, in the meantime, will little doubt take a couple of months away from the game within the hope of coming again stronger.