Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Robert Whittaker (red gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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“It Was Satisfying To Watch” – Dricus du Plessis Gives His Unfiltered Take On Bo Nickal’s First Loss

Dricus du Plessis takes aim at the wrestling prodigy Bo Nickal, drawing a clear line between MMA and the mat!

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has built his career on being both a fearsome competitor and a straight shooter when it comes to sharing his thoughts. The South African fighter has never been one to mince words, especially when he feels someone hasn’t earned their place at the table.

Bo Nickal entered the UFC with high expectations. A three-time NCAA wrestling champion with an Olympic-level pedigree, Nickal was touted as the next big thing in the middleweight division. His early UFC fights seemed to confirm the hype, as he steamrolled through his first few opponents. But the fighting world is unforgiving, and last weekend at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Figueiredo, Nickal’s undefeated record came crashing down when Reinier de Ridder handed him a second-round TKO loss. The fall from grace was swift, and du Plessis didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on the matter.

Also Read: “Even if I Lose Again” – Bo Nickal Fires Back At ‘Fraud Check’ Claims After First UFC Loss

Dricus du Plessis Calls Out Nickal’s One-Dimensional Approach

During a recent appearance on The Sias du Plessis Show, the middleweight champion didn’t hold back when discussing Nickal’s first professional loss. The champion pointed out what many MMA experts have long understood: elite wrestling alone doesn’t make a complete fighter.

“What I do have a problem with was [Nickal] was talking about people who has done what he has never done. He became a three-time NCAA champion if I’m not mistaken. Well, I mean, this is not wrestling… and he found out the hard way. I think he thought he was going to walk through [de Ridder]… Once he had him down, what was he going to do? Just hold him down… His wrestling is incredible, but once again, we are not wrestlers, we are MMA fighters.”

Even with his incredible takedown ability, Nickal seemed lost once he had de Ridder on the ground. This critique hits at the heart of what makes MMA such a complex sport. Fans have seen this story play out before with other wrestling phenoms who struggled to adapt. Nickal’s loss might be the wake-up call he needs to follow a similar path of growth rather than relying on a single elite skill.

Dricus Du Plessis Champion Satisfied With Bo Nickal’s Reality Check

Du Plessis seemed particularly irked by Nickal’s tendency to criticize more established fighters despite his own limited resume. The champion didn’t hide his satisfaction in watching Nickal’s defeat.

“[Nickal] has fought nobodies in terms of being able to talk and then going and saying, ‘The championship fight was sh*t. These guys can’t wrestle’… Humble pie does wonderful things for a man and I think he got served full pies. It was satisfying to watch.”

Dricus du Plessis says it was ‘satisfying’ to see Bo Nickal get humbled against RDR

“You gotta be careful how you talk in this game. You start talking when you get there.

Humble pie does wonderful things for a man. It was satisfying.”

🎥 @siasduplessis pic.twitter.com/2WWiwSx5ig
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 7, 2025

The MMA community often polices itself this way, with veterans checking newcomers who talk beyond their achievements. For du Plessis, Nickal’s loss represents more than just a setback. It is a necessary lesson in humility that could ultimately make him a better fighter!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Bo Nickal

Dricus Du Plessis

Reinier de Ridder

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!