Reinier de Ridder shares surprising wish for Bo Nickal fight at UFC on ESPN 67
Reinier de Ridder welcomes Bo Nickal's wrestling at UFC on ESPN 67.
De Ridder (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) meets Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a three-round middleweight bout May 3 at UFC on ESPN 67 from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. After submitting Kevin Holland at UFC 311 in January, the former ONE Championship champion called out multiple top contenders, including Khamzat Chimaev. While he didn't get his wish, he still sees value in a win over Nickal.
"I'm happy with the fight," De Ridder told MMA Junkie Radio. "It's a good one. It's not what I asked for. I asked for a top-five guy, but I think he's a top-five name, right? He's a very popular guy here in the States, and yeah, I'm happy with the matchup. See if we can make him grapple a bit, see if we can make him wrestle a bit. I think whatever happens, I might steal the spotlight in this one."
Nickal picked up his most notable win to date when he defeated Paul Craig by unanimous decision at UFC 309. Nickal opted not to shoot a single takedown and only strike, but De Ridder hopes the standout wrestler doesn't shy away from his bread and butter in their fight.
"I feel my wrestling is pretty decent, as well," De Ridder said. "I really want to make him wrestle this time. Last fight he was just sticking and moving, throwing that wild overhand of his, and trying to make sure he didn't wrestle at all. But let's make it a wrestling match this time, see if we can get him to shoot a couple of times, see if I can get his neck."
Related
Bo Nickal vs. Reinier de Ridder: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC Des Moines middleweight bout
Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland at UFC 311: Best photos
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 67.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Reinier de Ridder shares surprising wish for Bo Nickal fight at UFC on ESPN 67
Topics
-
Bo Nickal vs. Reinier de Ridder: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC Des Moines middleweight bout
Bo Nickal will take on his first UFC ranked opponent. Bo Nickal vs. Reinier de Ridder preview Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) gets an opportunity to enter the UFC's middleweight rankings after scoring ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Paul Craig returns to light heavyweight at UFC Fight Night event in May
Paul Craig is back to his original weight class. Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) meets Rodolfo Bellato(12-2-1 MMA, 1-0-1 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout at a UFC Fight Night event, which takes place ...Yahoo Sports - 27m -
Arman Tsarukyan: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 'just a hype fight'
Arman Tsarukyan is not interested in Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) meets rising lightweight contender Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a five-round ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
UFC's Daniel Barez sees Andre Lima as a more difficult rival than 'Lazy Boy' Rodriguez
Daniel Barez tried to pick a fight with Ronaldo Rodriguez, but instead got unbeaten prospect Andre Lima. Barez (17-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Lima (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) are set to clash this Saturday at UFC ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Leon Edwards breaks down Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315
Leon Edwards sees Jack Della Maddalena upsetting Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the May 10 ...Yahoo Sports - 18h -
UFC Fight Night 254 weigh-in results, live video stream (noon ET)
LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday's official UFC Fight Night 254 (ESPN+) fighter weigh-ins at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which kick off at noon ET (9 a.m. PT). Among ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
UFC Fight Night 254 results: Roman Dolidze avenges loss to Marvin Vettori
Roman Dolidze has evened the score. In the UFC Fight Night 254 middleweight main event Saturday, Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated Marvin Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) by unanimous decision ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
UFC could ditch ‘bad marriage’ with ESPN for Netflix as pay-per-view numbers reportedly drop
The MMA promotion is reportedly furious with ESPN after suffering a major technical outage during UFC 313Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Cory Sandhagen: 'Masterful performance' vs. Deiveson Figueiredo can set up UFC title shot
Cory Sandhagen is determined to get a UFC title shot in 2025, and it starts with a UFC on ESPN 67 main event win over Deiveson Figueiredo. After dropping a unanimous decision to Umar Nurmagomedov ...Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
PFF picks 'least favorite' free agent signing for Colts
Of the free agency moves made by the Indianapolis Colts, which one was Pro Football Focus' least favorite?Yahoo Sports - 11m -
March Madness will be Tre Johnson's last hurrah as a Texas Longhorn
Freshman Tre Johnson's time as a Texas Longhorn is quickly coming to an end. His play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament will define how he's remembered.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
2025 Men's March Madness brackets: NBC Sports experts share their Final Four, predictions
Torn between a couple Cinderella picks? Back and forth on a champion? See what our experts think about the men's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Why Michigan football EDGE TJ Guy switched numbers from 42 to 4 in spring ball
The senior EDGE explained why the switch from 42 to 4.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Contract details for Arizona Cardinals OLB Baron Browning
Howard Balzer breaks down the official numbers for Cardinals OLB Baron Browning's new 2-year contract.Yahoo Sports - 18m
More in Sports
-
PFF picks 'least favorite' free agent signing for Colts
Of the free agency moves made by the Indianapolis Colts, which one was Pro Football Focus' least favorite?Yahoo Sports - 11m -
March Madness will be Tre Johnson's last hurrah as a Texas Longhorn
Freshman Tre Johnson's time as a Texas Longhorn is quickly coming to an end. His play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament will define how he's remembered.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
2025 Men's March Madness brackets: NBC Sports experts share their Final Four, predictions
Torn between a couple Cinderella picks? Back and forth on a champion? See what our experts think about the men's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Why Michigan football EDGE TJ Guy switched numbers from 42 to 4 in spring ball
The senior EDGE explained why the switch from 42 to 4.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Contract details for Arizona Cardinals OLB Baron Browning
Howard Balzer breaks down the official numbers for Cardinals OLB Baron Browning's new 2-year contract.Yahoo Sports - 18m