American fans’ patriotism questioned by UFC star Bo Nickal over booing situation

Top UFC prospect Bo Nickal criticized American MMA fans for not supporting their fighters and turning on stars for bad performances.

American fans’ patriotism questioned by UFC star Bo Nickal over booing situation

Bo Nickal compares American fans with fans outside and their support (via Imago/X)

Bo Nickal is one of the biggest prospects in the UFC, showcasing elite wrestling and finishing ability in his dominant performances. Nickal remains focused on his championship aspirations, determined to prove himself as one of the best in the division. Despite his success, he doesn’t receive the same level of fan support as other rising stars, which has raised concerns.

Nickal’s last outing was at UFC 309 where he fought Paul Craig and won the fight via unanimous decision. Going into the fight, there were high expectations but his performance was quite underwhelming. As a result, he got booed by the fans. In a recent interview, the fighter addressed the criticism and shared an unique observations about American MMA fans.

Conor in Ireland or Paddy with the UK. Some Australian, New Zealand fighters, they get their whole country behind them, and for some reason we, don’t get necessarily the same support in America. Maybe it’s just such a massive country and audience and different types of belief.

Bo Nickal via Jake Noecker
YouTube video

As Nickal mentioned, when UFC first visited Dublin to promote Conor McGregor, the Irish crowd showed humongous support for the homegrown hero. Similarly, the UK fans go bonkers about top fighters such as Paddy Pimblett and Tom Aspinall. The Australian MMA fans have always shown support to Alexander Volkanovski and many other fighters, too. 

At UFC 309, President Donald Trump attended the event, showing support for Bo Nickal, one of his favorite fighters. Nickal aimed to impress Trump with his performance, but the crowd’s boos created a challenging atmosphere during the fight. Meanwhile, heavyweight champion Jon Jones paid tribute to Trump by performing his signature celebratory dance inside the octagon.

Nevertheless, Nickal in the interview expressed how he had finished all five of his fights since he fought in the UFC before UFC 309. However, in one fight where he struggled against a top fighter, he had to face excess criticism and hopes. However, according to the American fighter, something like this doesn’t bother him, given his huge experience in college wrestling. 

Bo Nickal’s stance on wrestling being the hardest sport 

Bo Nickal is a former Penn State wrestler, winning three NCAA titles and a Hodge Trophy, showcasing his elite grappling dominance. He excelled in freestyle wrestling, securing a U23 World Championship and competing internationally, proving his skills against world-class opponents. Nickal transitioned to MMA, utilizing his wrestling foundation to overwhelm opponents with takedowns, control, and submissions.

Bo Nickal wrestling background
Bo Nickal wrestling background (via X)

His relentless pressure, chain wrestling, and aggressive finishing ability make him one of the most dangerous wrestlers entering mixed martial arts. The wrestler is extremely proud of his wrestling background and believes he is the best in the world. In an interview, the fighter went in detail about why he believes wrestling is the hardest sport to master. 

Wrestling is the hardest thing to learn. You can take a freak athlete, start him wrestling in high school, they are not gonna be competitive. You have to know how to wrestle. I have watched enough other sports and I have watched enough wrestling. I don’t think there’s a sport that takes more to be successful or that’s more competitive.

Bo Nickal via his YouTube channel 
YouTube video

Wrestling is hard to learn because it demands intense physical conditioning, technical precision, and mental toughness. Mastering takedowns, escapes, and positioning takes years of drilling. One of the most lethal wrestlers in UFC, Khabib Nurmagomedov, dominated the roster with his incredible skills. 

After him, Dagestani wrestling became popular in the UFC, however, Bo Nickal isn’t much of a fan of it. The American has often criticized the Dagestani fighters and their influence in the promotion. Nickal believes he could beat both Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev in their primes when it comes to wrestling. 

Related: Bo Nickal Net Worth, UFC Contract, Endorsements and House