ONE championship double champ Reinier de Ridder dismantles wrestling phenom Bo Nickal with painful liver shot!
Wrestling phenoms in MMA often carry a certain mystique about them. Bo Nickal was no exception. The three-time NCAA Division I national champion entered the UFC with golden boy status. Fans drooled over his potential. Analysts predicted championship glory. Dana White couldn’t stop grinning whenever he mentioned Nickal’s name at press conferences. With an undefeated 7-0 record and the wrestling credentials to back it up, who could blame them? The American had steamrolled through his previous opponents, finishing six of seven inside the distance.
And then came Reinier de Ridder, the quiet assassin. The Dutch fighter arrived in the UFC with less fanfare but plenty of experience. His 19-2 record spoke volumes. De Ridder had already proven himself in other promotions, collecting championship belts along the way. His UFC debut submission win over Gerald Meerschaert got him noticed. Then he dismantled Kevin Holland in January, pushing his submission tally to an impressive 13 wins. Still, many viewed him as just another stepping stone for Nickal. Boy, were they wrong!
The co-main event at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo started with Nickal showing off some slick head movement. He seemed confident. Maybe too confident. De Ridder initiated the clinch early, testing Nickal’s much-hyped wrestling. The first real shock came when de Ridder took Nickal down with a modified judo toss. The wrestling prodigy got taken down first!
What followed was even more surprising. Nickal ended up on his back for the first time in his professional career. De Ridder controlled him in side position and eventually took his back. The Dutch fighter kept wearing down Nickal with relentless pressure. By the end of round one, Nickal’s left ear was bleeding.
When round two began, de Ridder came out hunting. He hurt Nickal with wide looping punches that found their mark. Sensing his opponent slowing down, de Ridder closed the distance and initiated another clinch. Strong knees to the body softened Nickal up. Then came the finishing sequence. It was a perfectly placed left knee to the liver that folded Nickal like a lawn chair. Game over at the 1:53 mark of round two. The TKO victory silenced Nickal’s supporters and announced de Ridder as a serious middleweight contender.
With this emphatic victory, Reinier de Ridder has catapulted himself into the top echelons of the division. The middleweight division suddenly has a new threat. De Ridder is now 3-0 in the UFC, all three of them being finishes. His grappling credentials were already established. Now he has added striking power to his arsenal. That is a dangerous combination at 185 pounds.De Ridder wasted no time making his intentions clear during his post-fight interview.
“I wanted to say this [Nickal] is the best American wrestler you have right now. Give me the best American striker [next]. [Sean] Strickland, you’re up, buddy. Let’s go!”
Strickland, known for his defensive fighting style and unorthodox personality, presents an interesting challenge. The former champion has crisp boxing. But after watching de Ridder systematically dismantle Nickal, Strickland might want to take some extra time to prepare. If the UFC matchmakers grant his wish, fans could be looking at a fascinating stylistic clash for the middleweight crown later this year!
(Image Credit: UFC News – X)
mma
