Reinier de Ridder humbly reveals DARK TRUTH about ‘fraud checking’ Bo Nickal in 2025

UFC middleweight Reinier de Ridder talks about Bo Nickal after defeating his hype train at UFC Des Moines.

Reinier de Ridder humbly reveals DARK TRUTH about ‘fraud checking’ Bo Nickal in 2025

Reinier de Ridder believes Bo Nickal has the potential to dominate the UFC middleweight division in the future (via X/Imago)

Destroying hype trains likely brings satisfaction to fighters, especially considering the intense spotlight and attention surrounding highly promoted contenders. Recently, Dutch fighter Reinier de Ridder earned such a moment by defeating wrestling sensation Bo Nickal via TKO, stunning fans and critics alike. Following the bout, Nickal faced backlash with many claiming that he was fraud-checked by RDR. 

De Ridder gave Nickal no chance to recover, asserting control and dominance right from the very beginning of the bout. He showcased composure and fully utilized his experience to neutralize the NCAA wrestling champion’s strengths with calculated and hurtful strikes. During a recent interview, De Ridder praised Nickal’s potential while breaking down the fight’s key moments. 

I’m just happy I got a chance to fight him now and not in three years. In three years, he’s going to be a f*cking killer. He’s going to run through everybody….He’s a very strong individual, and I think he’s going to take some time off from planning a fight, and we’ll see him back in six months, and he’s going to tear through a lot of guys.

Reinier de Ridder via MMA Fighting 

De Ridder advised Nickal to avoid social media temporarily, and instead surround himself with family until the criticism calms down. He emphasized that Nickal showed respect leading into the fight and never acted with arrogance or crossed any boundaries. The former ONE Championship titleholder believes this tough loss could ultimately become a valuable lesson in Nickal’s journey toward greatness.

The American star rose to fame through his elite wrestling credentials, which played a huge role in building his large UFC fan base. Recognizing his star power, the promotion heavily invested in him, giving him spotlight opportunities on major pay-per-view stages like UFC 309. At UFC 300, he received a coveted spot on the main card, even ahead of former champions like Jiri Prochazka.

Nevertheless, this win proved huge for RDR, significantly boosting his name recognition and momentum among UFC fans. It marked his third UFC victory, sparking excitement and curiosity about who he’ll face next inside the UFC octagon. With championship-caliber tools, RDR has already called out Sean Strickland, aiming for middleweight gold after dismantling the American wrestler.

Bo Nickal opens up about his loss against Reinier de Ridder

Since his UFC debut, Bo Nickal has often been labeled arrogant due to his confident predictions and dismissive attitude toward opponents. He boldly claimed dominance over the division early on, which rubbed several fighters like Khamzat Chimaev the wrong way. Nickal also engaged in heated exchanges with rivals during press conferences, intensifying perceptions of cockiness overshadowing his wrestling pedigree.

Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines
Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines (via X)

The NCAA National Champion promoted the belief that American wrestling surpasses all, directly challenging the Dagestani camp’s dominance in MMA. His bold personality led many to believe he underestimated Reinier de Ridder, which they blamed for his recent defeat. However, during an interview with Ariel Helwani, Nickal firmly denied those accusations and defended his mindset. 

I don’t feel that I looked at RDR as somebody I was going to blow through, I looked at that as a really big test and a really big challenge….Knowing the danger of the fight going in, I definitely felt like there was a chance for me to have weaknesses in my game exposed, and that’s exactly what happened….Being in certain situations and not realizing that I’m in danger…So that’s an experience that I’m going to be grateful for in the long run.

Bo Nickal via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Nickal’s coach addressed the loss and talked about how the rising fighter needed the upset in order to learn. He also slammed the critics for spreading excessive negativity around the American wrestler, who is still young and lacks MMA experience. At the age of 29, the All-American can definitely make various changes and become an unstoppable force in the future.

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