UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal has made it clear he`s ready to test his wrestling skills against any opponent, or even something far less conventional.
Nickal is scheduled to compete this weekend at UFC Des Moines, where he will face former ONE two-division champion Reinier de Ridder. However, just before this significant bout, Nickal expressed willingness to assist one of the world`s most famous YouTubers, MrBeast, with a truly bizarre and seemingly impossible endeavor.
Nickal currently holds an undefeated record in the UFC, with wins stemming from Dana White’s Contender Series and subsequent Octagon appearances against opponents like Val Woodburn and Cody Brundage. Despite these victories, Nickal aims to deliver a more impressive performance and regain full fan approval following a decision win over Paul Craig in November that was perceived by some as somewhat underwhelming.
Recently, Nickal was presented with a unique opportunity that could potentially elevate his profile beyond the sport of mixed martial arts.
Bo Nickal Accepted MrBeast’s Mind-Numbing Challenge Before UFC Des Moines
Popular YouTuber MrBeast, known for his elaborate challenges and philanthropic stunts, recently posed a highly unusual question to his massive online following. Through a social media post, MrBeast inquired about interest in participating in a potential video project involving a “100 vs. 1” confrontation… against a gorilla.
Bo Nickal boasts an exceptional background in wrestling, recognized as one of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers in U.S. history during his time at Penn State, where he secured multiple national championships before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Despite the extreme nature of the concept, Nickal indicated his willingness to test his unique skillset in one of MrBeast`s potentially most hazardous challenges.
Responding to MrBeast`s query on platform X (formerly Twitter), Nickal promptly expressed his interest, stating simply:
“I’m in,” Nickal responded.
Nickal is not the first fighter with ties to the UFC to consider a bizarre confrontation with a wild animal. Before his legendary, Hall-of-Fame career, Khabib Nurmagomedov famously trained by wrestling with bears in Dagestan, an experience he later claimed helped him dominate opponents in the Octagon.
As of the time of this report, MrBeast has not publicly acknowledged Nickal`s enthusiastic response. It remains possible that private discussions could be underway, potentially to be explored further after Nickal`s fight this weekend in Des Moines.
Bo Nickal Dismissed Khamzat Chimaev’s Wrestling Ahead of Unbeaten Contender’s Title Shot
While focusing on his upcoming fight against Reinier de Ridder, Nickal has also frequently discussed potential future opponents, notably targeting Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev is currently expected to contend for the middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis and has been a recurring topic of discussion for Nickal since he joined the UFC.
Notably, Nickal has openly stated that he does not hold Khamzat Chimaev`s wrestling in high regard, a rare opinion among analysts and fighters. When asked about the best wrestlers in MMA, Nickal has pointedly omitted Chimaev from his list.
These repeated dismissals of Chimaev`s grappling prowess have drawn responses, including a pointed message on social media from former UFC fighter Darren Till. Till has been a training partner and close associate of Chimaev since 2020 and remains a notable figure in his camp.
As Bo Nickal navigates his path up the UFC middleweight ranks, he consistently demonstrates immense confidence in his skills. Whether his considerable hype is fully justified remains to be seen, but his latest public statements certainly keep him in the spotlight.
Rupert Hartwell