November 15, 2025 • 16 mins
Bo Nickal IS BACK on the Daniel Cormier Check-In series ahead of his MASSIVE fight headline the prelims between him and Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322 in New York City's Madison Square Garden! Nickal talks about losing his first career MMA fight to Reinier de Ridder and how that has motivated him to get a statement win over Vieira in New York. Bo speaks on his haters, and explains why he does not want them back on the bandwagon once he starts winning again. Plus, don't miss a hilarious conversation between Bo and DC on what would happen if they wrestled each other today!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. All right, guys, say show is brought to
you by a new sponsor, hard Rock Bet. Hard Rock
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(00:45):
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Speaker 2 (01:00):
Payable and bonus betts.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Is not a cash offer offered by the Seminal Tribe
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Speaker 2 (01:07):
By Siminal hard Rock Digital, LLC. In all other states.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
You must be twenty one or older and physically present
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or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about
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(01:33):
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with it. And if you have a gambling problem, call
one eight hundred gambler. Guys, I'm joined out by bull
nickel Bolt. Thanks for checking in, man. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Big time.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Fight this weekend UFC three twenty two. He's fighting against
the what's that guy's name?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Again. I'd keep it mixing him and.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Rodriguez up Kadelfo Vieira, I keep mixing up Adolfo Vieira
and Gregor Rodriguez. He's fighting Adolfo Vieira, first fight back
from the first loss of your career. We'll get into
all of that, well, we'll.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Get in all of it because I believe it's all
part of the journey, right totally.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
But when we go back to that, right, when we
go back to that fight, my explanation is, I think
that the riddle was just underestimated and undervalued it might
have been a bigger jump than you needed at the time.
When you look at it in hindsight, do you feel
like maybe that's what it was.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, totally. I mean I think that he beat Robert Whittaker.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Yeah, he's obviously a world class guy. I think coming
from different organization, You're like, I don't know how good
this guy is. And I had seen, you know, some
film where it looks sloppy, it didn't look great, But
it turns out like that's more.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
That's his style. He makes me fight that way.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
He did it with me, He did it with Robert Whitaker,
and uh, yeah, I think I overlooked him a little
bit in a way. I wasn't as prepared for the
fight as I should have been. But it's a good
lesson and uh, you know, I definitely want to take
it and try it and just keep improving.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
When when I remember the first time I lost to Jones,
I got taken down.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Was that your first loss?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Wow, I had gotten taken down, And uh, I was
a bit surprised that he was able to secure takedowns
and he was able to wrestle with me and compete
with me in those areas were you surprised because I
think he might've either got a takedown or y'ull scrambled
during the first period. When you went to that corner
between rounds, what were you thinking, being that it was
(03:32):
more you had dealt with more adversity in that round.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Dude, you have a dealt with in your career up
to that point.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, honestly, I'll just be honest that
going to the corner after the first round, I was like,
this is not good. Yeah's not good because it wasn't
the wrestling or the grappling or anything. He actually I
went for a guillotine and I kind of went to
sweep him. He caught his feet on the cage and
then ended up on top of me, and I was like, well,
that wasn't good. But when I got up, I was like,
(04:00):
no worries. But what really got me was the body shot.
So he landed like telling you, dude, eight or nine
sneaky needs to the body.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
The first five I was like, oh.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
No, big deal, Like yeah, I'm not meeting those like no,
no problem, and then like they started adding up and
I was like, oh frick, Like he just landed like
a clean need of the body is like seventh or
eighth one, and I was like, yeah, I'm starting to
feel this is nothing.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
So that was what caught me off guard more than anything,
and that I knew I was in trouble after that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Many of them. It wasn't just like one, it was
just the quantity.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, And so the fight happens, What does the process
look like going back, having the kind of go through
those emotions, deal with those emotions because we lose in
wrestling at times, right, especially young Right, we don't lose
as much as we age, but when we're younger we
learned to lose a little bit or deal with that.
(04:52):
But in this career it's something different. What was your
process like when you were like I need to build
back because you were so highly regarded, people start piling
on you and pilling on you, Like, what does that
process look like when you're building back?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
You know, the first initial feeling, I was just pissed.
I was just really pissed because not even because of
my performance, but because I felt like I didn't prepare
well enough. I felt like I should have been better
prepared going into that fight. And that's just on me,
like for for getting better preparation and yeah, maybe lack
of experience. I didn't understand or know that. But that's
(05:28):
what makes me mad, is I feel like going into
the fight, I didn't really like give myself a good
chance to win the fight, you know, because I give
myself a chance to win and I can stay in there.
Even if you look at his fight with Whittaker, Whitticker,
at least I gave himself a chance to win. He
knocked him down, so it was a close fight. But
I felt like I didn't even really get into the fight.
So that was very frustrating for me, and it pissed
me off. And so from there, like the way I've
(05:49):
always responded to any loss I've had since I've been young,
since I've been five to six, was like, let's work,
go to work, go to work, Like I'm not worried
about like what just happened. I'm pissed off, and like
I'm just getting after like straight back to training, straight
back to work. I need to get better, Like can't
have that happen again, right, Like I'm not saying that
I can't ever lose again, because stuff happens, but like
(06:10):
I'm never going to be as unprepared as I was
for that last fight.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
What did you do different? Did you change something in
your preparations?
Speaker 4 (06:17):
I would say I changed my preparation a little bit,
but it was more with my mindset than anything else.
Of Like you could probably speak to this, but in wrestling,
the goal of a wrestling match is to control your
opponent yep. Like I'm worried about controlling this guy, all right,
I need to take him down, hold him down, but
I'm not worried about like.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Doing damage yep. And that fight taught me like wins
in fights is damage, right, Like, because you can control
them all you want, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
But if he lands eight knees to the body, that
takes more of a told in him having to get
back up to his feet totally.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And so that was my mindset shift from all right,
like I'm in here trying to control you too. I'm
in here, I'm trying to control position, but that leads
to doing damage. So like that's been my main focus
for this last camp, is like how can I just
like mess this dude up? Like, And that shift in
my mindset has been huge, Like my sparring rounds are different,
like everything in my training has been very different because
(07:06):
of that. So you know, I'm excited. I feel like
I have a different perspective on fighting than what I
did prior to my last fight.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So you start to get the call that it's going
to be uh your opponent this weekend, and what is
your initial thought? Because he's a very very good grappler,
right jiu jitsu fighter. Last time you thought a guy
with good grappler was in Madison Square, you just stood
with him. You kind of gave away your greatest ability,
which is your wrestling. When you get this opponent, what
(07:36):
are you thinking when they say it's adultful Vier.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, I mean well I had asked for him like
a couple of years ago because I thought one it
was an exciting matchup between a grappler versus wrestling guy.
And so immediately right away after the fight, I basically
told the UFC hunter, I was like, get me in
there like asap, like let's go again, like I want
to go in a couple of months. And then you know,
I kind of cooled off a little bit and then
I was like, all right, maybe you know August September
(08:02):
is perfect. They're like, how about MSG, And I'm like yeah,
just whatever you guys say, I'm doing it. So this
is the first opponent I offered me. I said, absolutely,
let's go. And I think that, you know, having my
last two guys that I fought ben high level jiu
jitsu guys, it's a great prep for this one. And
then you know, with a shift of my mindset, more
focusing on myself, more of a of a different mentality
(08:22):
going into fighting, I feel really good about it. And
uh yeah, it's a great opportunity for me to bounce back.
So you know, he's a guy that is, you know,
multiple time world champion in jiu jitsu, very high level.
But the last couple of guys I fought have had
twenty five plus fights.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah right, you know, these guys are long time veterans.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Longtime veterans.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Both of the last two guys I thought were both
six foot four, So I feel pretty good going into
a guy that only has double the amount of fights
that I have.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
You know, he only has fifteen maybe.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Fights and h you know, I'm I'm a little taller
than him too, So that to me is like I'm
excited about it, and I feel like it's a good catchup.
You know, I respect his skills and what he can
do out there, but I'm looking to go do my thing.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Does it always Uh, You're always gonna be able to
experience disadvantage because everything's happened so fast.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Right, But in this fight this weekend with.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Vi Era, do you feel like a little bit of
the pressures off because of the I'm not undefeated anymore. Look,
we look around the landscape of fighting. The Americans are struggling.
Call it for what it is, right, we have no
male champions, We have no males in the top ten
pound for pound. You are this bright looking young wrestler, has.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
All this stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
We all start going bow nickel, bow nickel, bow nickel,
bon nickel. But then the fight happens and people start
jumping off and they go ask, guys, not what he's.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Supposed to be. Does it feel good to not have
that pressure of that anymore? Though?
Speaker 3 (09:52):
You know, I haven't really thought about it that way.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
I feel more so like I have something to prove, right, Like, uh,
the pressure for me is just part of it. Like
I feel like every time since I've competed, from being
seven years old, I had like a target on my back.
Everybody wanted to beat me. Everybody wanted to come after me. Yep,
I think a little bit because of you know, how
I look.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I'm not like a.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Typical wrestler fighter build like they were, like, oh I could,
So I always felt like I had that pressure that
other people maybe didn't. So I still feel that coming
into this fight. But I feel like way more motivated
and way more like I got. I didn't feel really
like I had anything to prove in my last fight. Yeah,
like this fight, I feel like I do. And that's
I think a great thing. I feel really motivated, I
(10:34):
feel confident, and I'm honestly just fired up about it.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
So, you know, mentally, I feel like this is a
great place for me to be.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
You know, if you carry a chip on your shoulder
right at times, it can really propel you forward, right
because the naysayers and the haters they can't crush you
because they can't do you anything right. They really can't
do you anything right. But you could ultimately stick it
to them, right, right, This is an opportunity to do that.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
But when you Chail.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And I discussed on our show a couple weeks ago,
is it a demotion that you're fighting on the prelimbs, Well,
did you have much to say about that when that happened,
and you go, you know what, I'm going to earn
my way and I'm going to show you guys that
I am who I said.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I was.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
I feel like if I could redo my career, this
was out of my control. But the one thing I
would change is I would have started off there. Yeah, right,
like my career, we started off UFC.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
It was on pay per view right first.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
My first fight in.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
The UFC was UFC two eighty five pay per view,
my second fight in the UFC two ninety pay per view,
my third fight in the UFC was UFC three hundred
pay per view card, and then my fourth fight was MSGA.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
So it's like big fights, big fight, big car.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Fight has been what it was, and to be fair, like,
looking back at those cards, I probably like I guess
I didn't earn my stripes in an MMA in MMA,
but the reason I was there was my wrestling, my
wrestling background and my wrestling fans that I bring to
the table, which for some reason people can't comprehend.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It doesn't make sense.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
It's it's business, right, like they want the viewership, right,
But yeah, considering my MMA accolades, like I shouldn't have
been where I was, But all that to be said, like,
I'm perfectly happy to be where I'm at, you know,
main prelim here MSG. It's a big opportunity for me.
And the only thing I think is I get to
get home and get to bed earlier, and you know
it won't be out till four am, like last year.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
So I'm pumped about that.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Well do you.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Do you still we always ask who's the next great
American champion? Like that was really throwing on you, dude,
And people are like, oh, I was talking to Floresta
the other day, I'm not ready to give up on
bow Nickel, Like, do you still feel like you could
still be the next American guy to climb that ladder
and go in? And how far off do you think
(12:48):
you are now?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Right? Ultimately trying to put yourself in that position, I
mean percent.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe I
could be the best in the world at it. Everything
I've done since a little kid, I've done it to
be the best, and you know, to be number one.
So for me, that's part of I'm not going to
fight unless I feel like I am motivated to be
world champion and be the best, and I think that
I'm not super far off.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Right, Like the last guy that I fought to Ritter,
he goes beats Whitaker, he's in a.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Title I think he's in the top five right now,
number five.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Yeah, just he just lost his last fight, but I
feel like, you know, he was right in there for
a title shot. So I look at where I'm at.
I think I win this fight two to three more
and I'm in title contention pretty easily. The sport is
a crazy sport. You know, guys jump up very fast
as far as like being you know, American American representation,
Like I'm one hundred percent fired up and happy to
(13:39):
do that. But I do think that we have a
lot of other guys that are that are coming up
that are going to do really well.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Sean Brady, Sean Brady Savage.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
You know, yeah, he had a loss to the Law,
but you saw him bounce back since then. Yeah, I
mean it's it's unbelievable talent. So I think there's American
guys that are right in there that are gonna be
in title contention and winning belts.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
What do you make a Gable steveson. I was pumped
that he's just striking.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
It is crazy, you know, he really like is just
beating dudes up out here. And this is the thing
I've said this about about fighter, about wrestler's transition to fighting.
If you're a wrestler, you want to fight, go get
a fight. Don't like pitter powder around and train for
two years or whatever.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Like, go get a fight. You know, it's amate fighter.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Gable obviously he went straight to pro fights and and
has dominated, which is great. But that's what I like
about what he's doing is he's he's saying I'm gonna fight.
He's already got two fights in a couple of months.
Like that's great, And I think that shows it just
shows like, you know, confidence, It shows that like he's
really in here. So I hope that he's a guy
that so talented he can do whatever. But if he
(14:49):
really sticks to this, like I think he can be
right up there with the top.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Of you guys, very very quick. Yeah, especially at heavyweight.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah, last one before I let you go.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
We you get a lot of support still regardless, but
we tend to latch onto that negative, right are you
aware of that when you're when you're watching it, do
you like kind of pay attention to it? And if
you do, what's what's your message to these people when
after Saturday and in two fights they kind of all
want to come back.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Yeah, for sure, you know, I think that you mentioned
it earlier. But like having a chip on your shoulder,
it can be a really powerful thing. And I've always
had that a little bit and felt like, you know,
I do have like this this little thing in the
back of my mind that that's motivating me of oh,
people don't think you can do this or whatever, this
or that, so it absolutely motivates me. And I feel
like the people that want to be wishy washy and
(15:41):
on the bandwagon and off, like it's just like I
don't really pay pay any mind to that. Like I
have so many people that love me and support me.
I really value that. And you know, if you're with me,
you're with me. If you're not, then you know, don't
don't don't try to come over here. Just I would
rather just be negative.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
The whole time, the whole time.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Don't come back, don't come back, don't come back, Like
I don't. I don't want to see you guys.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Right, Like, if you if you're a wrestling fan, you're
a Penn State fan, you know you're with me forever.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I know that, yes, for sure. But if you're you know,
in here out here, it's like, just just hate on me,
just tell me I suck.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Because that's better.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
It's better.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
It motivates you.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I like it, Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I used to try to fight for their cheers, but
then the moment I was like, yeah, I don't care
what you do.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
I'm still collecting my checks. It made it so much better.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
That's how I feel. I'm like, man, you're either way.
You you love me, hate me, you're gonna watch.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So you're gonna watch. Bo Nickel fights a sweek in
at UFC three twenty two. He is going to be
in the main prelim right before the pay per view.
Bow Nichol is one of the best wrestlers to come
to MMA, obviously, still a very young prospect and good
prospect in all the Fighting Bowl. Thanks for checking in, man,
I appreciate you. Until next time, guys, Peace,
The volume. All right, guys, say show is brought to
you by a new sponsor, hard Rock Bet. Hard Rock
Bet is a top rated sportsbook app. It might just
take the belt from any other sportsbook app that you
use once you open it up and you see it
for yourself. And guys, if you haven't tried your first
(00:24):
bet on hard rock Bet, there's still time if you
can get one to fifty and bonus bets if you win,
so place a five dollar bet. If that bet hits,
you not only get your winnings, but you get one
hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets right away. Guys,
Today's a great day to try the hard rock Bet
sports app. So it's not just the welcome offer. You
(00:45):
can get bonus bets. You can get parlay, insurance and
other rewards. The rewards and the promos are NonStop. So
download the hard rock Bet app and make your first
deposit today.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Payable and bonus betts.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Is not a cash offer offered by the Seminal Tribe
of Florida and Florida offered.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
By Siminal hard Rock Digital, LLC. In all other states.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
You must be twenty one or older and physically present
in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee,
or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about
gambling in Florida called one eight eight eight, ad mit it.
In Indiana, if you are someone you know has a
(01:33):
gambling problem and wants help, call one eight hundred nine
with it. And if you have a gambling problem, call
one eight hundred gambler. Guys, I'm joined out by bull
nickel Bolt. Thanks for checking in, man. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Big time.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Fight this weekend UFC three twenty two. He's fighting against
the what's that guy's name?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Again. I'd keep it mixing him and.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Rodriguez up Kadelfo Vieira, I keep mixing up Adolfo Vieira
and Gregor Rodriguez. He's fighting Adolfo Vieira, first fight back
from the first loss of your career. We'll get into
all of that, well, we'll.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Get in all of it because I believe it's all
part of the journey, right totally.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
But when we go back to that, right, when we
go back to that fight, my explanation is, I think
that the riddle was just underestimated and undervalued it might
have been a bigger jump than you needed at the time.
When you look at it in hindsight, do you feel
like maybe that's what it was.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, totally. I mean I think that he beat Robert Whittaker.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Yeah, he's obviously a world class guy. I think coming
from different organization, You're like, I don't know how good
this guy is. And I had seen, you know, some
film where it looks sloppy, it didn't look great, But
it turns out like that's more.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
That's his style. He makes me fight that way.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
He did it with me, He did it with Robert Whitaker,
and uh, yeah, I think I overlooked him a little
bit in a way. I wasn't as prepared for the
fight as I should have been. But it's a good
lesson and uh, you know, I definitely want to take
it and try it and just keep improving.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
When when I remember the first time I lost to Jones,
I got taken down.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Was that your first loss?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Wow, I had gotten taken down, And uh, I was
a bit surprised that he was able to secure takedowns
and he was able to wrestle with me and compete
with me in those areas were you surprised because I
think he might've either got a takedown or y'ull scrambled
during the first period. When you went to that corner
between rounds, what were you thinking, being that it was
(03:32):
more you had dealt with more adversity in that round.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Dude, you have a dealt with in your career up
to that point.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, honestly, I'll just be honest that
going to the corner after the first round, I was like,
this is not good. Yeah's not good because it wasn't
the wrestling or the grappling or anything. He actually I
went for a guillotine and I kind of went to
sweep him. He caught his feet on the cage and
then ended up on top of me, and I was like, well,
that wasn't good. But when I got up, I was like,
(04:00):
no worries. But what really got me was the body shot.
So he landed like telling you, dude, eight or nine
sneaky needs to the body.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
The first five I was like, oh.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
No, big deal, Like yeah, I'm not meeting those like no,
no problem, and then like they started adding up and
I was like, oh frick, Like he just landed like
a clean need of the body is like seventh or
eighth one, and I was like, yeah, I'm starting to
feel this is nothing.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
So that was what caught me off guard more than anything,
and that I knew I was in trouble after that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Many of them. It wasn't just like one, it was
just the quantity.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, And so the fight happens, What does the process
look like going back, having the kind of go through
those emotions, deal with those emotions because we lose in
wrestling at times, right, especially young Right, we don't lose
as much as we age, but when we're younger we
learned to lose a little bit or deal with that.
(04:52):
But in this career it's something different. What was your
process like when you were like I need to build
back because you were so highly regarded, people start piling
on you and pilling on you, Like, what does that
process look like when you're building back?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
You know, the first initial feeling, I was just pissed.
I was just really pissed because not even because of
my performance, but because I felt like I didn't prepare
well enough. I felt like I should have been better
prepared going into that fight. And that's just on me,
like for for getting better preparation and yeah, maybe lack
of experience. I didn't understand or know that. But that's
(05:28):
what makes me mad, is I feel like going into
the fight, I didn't really like give myself a good
chance to win the fight, you know, because I give
myself a chance to win and I can stay in there.
Even if you look at his fight with Whittaker, Whitticker,
at least I gave himself a chance to win. He
knocked him down, so it was a close fight. But
I felt like I didn't even really get into the fight.
So that was very frustrating for me, and it pissed
me off. And so from there, like the way I've
(05:49):
always responded to any loss I've had since I've been young,
since I've been five to six, was like, let's work,
go to work, go to work, Like I'm not worried
about like what just happened. I'm pissed off, and like
I'm just getting after like straight back to training, straight
back to work. I need to get better, Like can't
have that happen again, right, Like I'm not saying that
I can't ever lose again, because stuff happens, but like
(06:10):
I'm never going to be as unprepared as I was
for that last fight.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
What did you do different? Did you change something in
your preparations?
Speaker 4 (06:17):
I would say I changed my preparation a little bit,
but it was more with my mindset than anything else.
Of Like you could probably speak to this, but in wrestling,
the goal of a wrestling match is to control your
opponent yep. Like I'm worried about controlling this guy, all right,
I need to take him down, hold him down, but
I'm not worried about like.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Doing damage yep. And that fight taught me like wins
in fights is damage, right, Like, because you can control
them all you want, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
But if he lands eight knees to the body, that
takes more of a told in him having to get
back up to his feet totally.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And so that was my mindset shift from all right,
like I'm in here trying to control you too. I'm
in here, I'm trying to control position, but that leads
to doing damage. So like that's been my main focus
for this last camp, is like how can I just
like mess this dude up? Like, And that shift in
my mindset has been huge, Like my sparring rounds are different,
like everything in my training has been very different because
(07:06):
of that. So you know, I'm excited. I feel like
I have a different perspective on fighting than what I
did prior to my last fight.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So you start to get the call that it's going
to be uh your opponent this weekend, and what is
your initial thought? Because he's a very very good grappler,
right jiu jitsu fighter. Last time you thought a guy
with good grappler was in Madison Square, you just stood
with him. You kind of gave away your greatest ability,
which is your wrestling. When you get this opponent, what
(07:36):
are you thinking when they say it's adultful Vier.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, I mean well I had asked for him like
a couple of years ago because I thought one it
was an exciting matchup between a grappler versus wrestling guy.
And so immediately right away after the fight, I basically
told the UFC hunter, I was like, get me in
there like asap, like let's go again, like I want
to go in a couple of months. And then you know,
I kind of cooled off a little bit and then
I was like, all right, maybe you know August September
(08:02):
is perfect. They're like, how about MSG, And I'm like yeah,
just whatever you guys say, I'm doing it. So this
is the first opponent I offered me. I said, absolutely,
let's go. And I think that, you know, having my
last two guys that I fought ben high level jiu
jitsu guys, it's a great prep for this one. And
then you know, with a shift of my mindset, more
focusing on myself, more of a of a different mentality
(08:22):
going into fighting, I feel really good about it. And
uh yeah, it's a great opportunity for me to bounce back.
So you know, he's a guy that is, you know,
multiple time world champion in jiu jitsu, very high level.
But the last couple of guys I fought have had
twenty five plus fights.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah right, you know, these guys are long time veterans.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Longtime veterans.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Both of the last two guys I thought were both
six foot four, So I feel pretty good going into
a guy that only has double the amount of fights
that I have.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
You know, he only has fifteen maybe.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Fights and h you know, I'm I'm a little taller
than him too, So that to me is like I'm
excited about it, and I feel like it's a good catchup.
You know, I respect his skills and what he can
do out there, but I'm looking to go do my thing.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Does it always Uh, You're always gonna be able to
experience disadvantage because everything's happened so fast.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Right, But in this fight this weekend with.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Vi Era, do you feel like a little bit of
the pressures off because of the I'm not undefeated anymore. Look,
we look around the landscape of fighting. The Americans are struggling.
Call it for what it is, right, we have no
male champions, We have no males in the top ten
pound for pound. You are this bright looking young wrestler, has.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
All this stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
We all start going bow nickel, bow nickel, bow nickel,
bon nickel. But then the fight happens and people start
jumping off and they go ask, guys, not what he's.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Supposed to be. Does it feel good to not have
that pressure of that anymore? Though?
Speaker 3 (09:52):
You know, I haven't really thought about it that way.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
I feel more so like I have something to prove, right, Like, uh,
the pressure for me is just part of it. Like
I feel like every time since I've competed, from being
seven years old, I had like a target on my back.
Everybody wanted to beat me. Everybody wanted to come after me. Yep,
I think a little bit because of you know, how
I look.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I'm not like a.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Typical wrestler fighter build like they were, like, oh I could,
So I always felt like I had that pressure that
other people maybe didn't. So I still feel that coming
into this fight. But I feel like way more motivated
and way more like I got. I didn't feel really
like I had anything to prove in my last fight. Yeah,
like this fight, I feel like I do. And that's
I think a great thing. I feel really motivated, I
(10:34):
feel confident, and I'm honestly just fired up about it.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
So, you know, mentally, I feel like this is a
great place for me to be.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
You know, if you carry a chip on your shoulder
right at times, it can really propel you forward, right
because the naysayers and the haters they can't crush you
because they can't do you anything right. They really can't
do you anything right. But you could ultimately stick it
to them, right, right, This is an opportunity to do that.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
But when you Chail.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And I discussed on our show a couple weeks ago,
is it a demotion that you're fighting on the prelimbs, Well,
did you have much to say about that when that happened,
and you go, you know what, I'm going to earn
my way and I'm going to show you guys that
I am who I said.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I was.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
I feel like if I could redo my career, this
was out of my control. But the one thing I
would change is I would have started off there. Yeah, right,
like my career, we started off UFC.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
It was on pay per view right first.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
My first fight in.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
The UFC was UFC two eighty five pay per view,
my second fight in the UFC two ninety pay per view,
my third fight in the UFC was UFC three hundred
pay per view card, and then my fourth fight was MSGA.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
So it's like big fights, big fight, big car.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Fight has been what it was, and to be fair, like,
looking back at those cards, I probably like I guess
I didn't earn my stripes in an MMA in MMA,
but the reason I was there was my wrestling, my
wrestling background and my wrestling fans that I bring to
the table, which for some reason people can't comprehend.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It doesn't make sense.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
It's it's business, right, like they want the viewership, right,
But yeah, considering my MMA accolades, like I shouldn't have
been where I was, But all that to be said, like,
I'm perfectly happy to be where I'm at, you know,
main prelim here MSG. It's a big opportunity for me.
And the only thing I think is I get to
get home and get to bed earlier, and you know
it won't be out till four am, like last year.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
So I'm pumped about that.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Well do you.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Do you still we always ask who's the next great
American champion? Like that was really throwing on you, dude,
And people are like, oh, I was talking to Floresta
the other day, I'm not ready to give up on
bow Nickel, Like, do you still feel like you could
still be the next American guy to climb that ladder
and go in? And how far off do you think
(12:48):
you are now?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Right? Ultimately trying to put yourself in that position, I
mean percent.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe I
could be the best in the world at it. Everything
I've done since a little kid, I've done it to
be the best, and you know, to be number one.
So for me, that's part of I'm not going to
fight unless I feel like I am motivated to be
world champion and be the best, and I think that
I'm not super far off.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Right, Like the last guy that I fought to Ritter,
he goes beats Whitaker, he's in a.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Title I think he's in the top five right now,
number five.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Yeah, just he just lost his last fight, but I
feel like, you know, he was right in there for
a title shot. So I look at where I'm at.
I think I win this fight two to three more
and I'm in title contention pretty easily. The sport is
a crazy sport. You know, guys jump up very fast
as far as like being you know, American American representation,
Like I'm one hundred percent fired up and happy to
(13:39):
do that. But I do think that we have a
lot of other guys that are that are coming up
that are going to do really well.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Sean Brady, Sean Brady Savage.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
You know, yeah, he had a loss to the Law,
but you saw him bounce back since then. Yeah, I
mean it's it's unbelievable talent. So I think there's American
guys that are right in there that are gonna be
in title contention and winning belts.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
What do you make a Gable steveson. I was pumped
that he's just striking.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
It is crazy, you know, he really like is just
beating dudes up out here. And this is the thing
I've said this about about fighter, about wrestler's transition to fighting.
If you're a wrestler, you want to fight, go get
a fight. Don't like pitter powder around and train for
two years or whatever.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Like, go get a fight. You know, it's amate fighter.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Gable obviously he went straight to pro fights and and
has dominated, which is great. But that's what I like
about what he's doing is he's he's saying I'm gonna fight.
He's already got two fights in a couple of months.
Like that's great, And I think that shows it just
shows like, you know, confidence, It shows that like he's
really in here. So I hope that he's a guy
that so talented he can do whatever. But if he
(14:49):
really sticks to this, like I think he can be
right up there with the top.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Of you guys, very very quick. Yeah, especially at heavyweight.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah, last one before I let you go.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
We you get a lot of support still regardless, but
we tend to latch onto that negative, right are you
aware of that when you're when you're watching it, do
you like kind of pay attention to it? And if
you do, what's what's your message to these people when
after Saturday and in two fights they kind of all
want to come back.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Yeah, for sure, you know, I think that you mentioned
it earlier. But like having a chip on your shoulder,
it can be a really powerful thing. And I've always
had that a little bit and felt like, you know,
I do have like this this little thing in the
back of my mind that that's motivating me of oh,
people don't think you can do this or whatever, this
or that, so it absolutely motivates me. And I feel
like the people that want to be wishy washy and
(15:41):
on the bandwagon and off, like it's just like I
don't really pay pay any mind to that. Like I
have so many people that love me and support me.
I really value that. And you know, if you're with me,
you're with me. If you're not, then you know, don't
don't don't try to come over here. Just I would
rather just be negative.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
The whole time, the whole time.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Don't come back, don't come back, don't come back, Like
I don't. I don't want to see you guys.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Right, Like, if you if you're a wrestling fan, you're
a Penn State fan, you know you're with me forever.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I know that, yes, for sure. But if you're you know,
in here out here, it's like, just just hate on me,
just tell me I suck.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Because that's better.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
It's better.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
It motivates you.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I like it, Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I used to try to fight for their cheers, but
then the moment I was like, yeah, I don't care
what you do.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
I'm still collecting my checks. It made it so much better.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
That's how I feel. I'm like, man, you're either way.
You you love me, hate me, you're gonna watch.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So you're gonna watch. Bo Nickel fights a sweek in
at UFC three twenty two. He is going to be
in the main prelim right before the pay per view.
Bow Nichol is one of the best wrestlers to come
to MMA, obviously, still a very young prospect and good
prospect in all the Fighting Bowl. Thanks for checking in, man,
I appreciate you. Until next time, guys, Peace,
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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