“13, 14 fights,” Bo Nickal reveals original plans in MMA to become champion on Joe Rogan Experience

Discover Bo Nickal's ambitious journey from regional circuits to UFC stardom, as he envisioned becoming champion.


“13, 14 fights,” Bo Nickal reveals original plans in MMA to become champion on Joe Rogan Experience

Bo Nickal reveals his original MMA plans to Joe Rogan (Image via: IMAGO, Instagram)

Bo Nickal is one of the biggest prospects in the UFC. The former collegiate wrestler is undefeated in five fights with all finishes. He is 2-0 in the UFC and will face Cody Brundage at UFC 300 as Dana White announced recently. Nickal was a recent guest on Joe Rogan Experience.

During the podcast, Nickal explained his original plans to become the UFC champion to Joe Rogan. This is what he said.

My initial plan, before any of this happened, was that I’m going to get 10 fights in the regional scene, you know, and then I’m going to go to UFC. I’ll be the champ by like 13, 14 fights. That’s where the plan was.

Bo Nickal via JRE
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Nickal’s original plan was to compete at least 10 times in the UFC. However, his fame as a credentialled collegiate wrestler hindered the plan. Moreover, his management said that fighters would not be willing to fight him in the regional circuit. Nevertheless, Nickal believed that he could’ve become a UFC champion in 3 or 4 fights after 10 fights before the UFC.

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The UFC’s middleweight division does not have good offensive wrestlers at the top. However, fighters like Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier, and Sean Strickland have good defensive wrestling. With Khamzat Chimaev and Bo Nickal rising in the rankings, fans can expect great things in the middleweight division in the future.

Related: “My body was stressed…” Joe Rogan SHOCKINGLY learns stress causes herpes from UFC and wrestling phenom Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal reveals the X factor in MMA on the Joe Rogan Experience

Bo Nickal’s credentials as a three-time NCAA Division I champion make him the most accomplished collegiate wrestler in the UFC. In addition to his world-class wrestling, Nickal showed amazing striking in his latest bout against Val Woodburn at UFC 290.

Bo Nickal
Bo Nickal (Image via Instagram)

Nevertheless, it was not striking or wrestling that Nickal considers the X factor in MMA. Nickal spoke about it on Joe Rogan Experience. Nickal claimed that cardio was the most important factor in his success in MMA and wrestling. He believed MMA requires more cardiovascular strength compared to other sports as it is so much more physically demanding.

Moreover, he thinks that Sean Strickland’s victory over Israel Adesanya is an example of his viewpoint.

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