UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal reflects on his devastating loss to Reinier de Ridder - “Grateful for the highs and lows”

The first defeat of the career hits hard, especially when the results come along with criticisms from the fans. Wrestler-turned-fighter and UFC prospect Bo Nickal suffered the first-ever loss of his pro-MMA career against Reinier de Ridder. The middleweight contender’s loss was met with extreme criticism from the MMA fan community, amidst the support he received from fellow MMA fighters like Henry Cejudo as well as his team, the American Top Team. In a recent post on Instagram, Bo Nickal broke his silence over the unexpected defeat. His post indicated the preparations for a strong comeback that would solidify the chances of a title run for the fighter.
Bo Nickal put up an impressive fight in the Dana White Contender Series, securing submission wins over competitors like Zachary Borrego and Donovan Beard. The fighter went on to establish himself within the promotion, defeating middleweight contenders like Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn and Cody Brundage. The winning streak of the fighter was, however, cut short at the UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo on May 3, 2025, when Reinier de Ridder defeated Nickal via a knockout in the second round.
Upon the devastating loss, fans called out the fighter for previously wanting to fight Khamzat Chimaev. The community instead believed that the fighter should take some time to evaluate his position within the division and prepare accordingly for his next bout. Despite the criticism, veteran fighters like Henry Cejudo came in support of the fighter. Cejudo wrote, “The wrestling world has taken a hit today. Keep your head up @NoBickal this is not the end. I got finished by Demetrious Johnson with a similar body shot and I went on to avenge that loss and become champion. You are capable of doing the same. Get back on your horse brother #UFCDesMoines”

Amidst the mixed reactions, Nickal finally decides to break his silence upon the devastating loss.
“Grateful for the highs and lows. I’ll be back.” The fighter wrote on one of his Instagram posts.

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Nickal’s post indicates a strong determination for the fighter to legitimize his stance within the welterweight division. A celebrated wrestler, the fighter aims at securing the belt in MMA in one of the top promotions of the sport, UFC.