Bo Nickal experienced his first professional mixed martial arts loss this past weekend when he was defeated by Reinier de Ridder. His head coach, Mike Brown, has shared his perspective on the fight and identified the key factors contributing to the outcome.
Nickal, a decorated three-time NCAA wrestling champion and one of the most talked-about prospects entering MMA, began his career impressively with a 7-0 record featuring six finishes. However, his perfect streak ended at UFC Des Moines. De Ridder pressured him early on the ground in the first round and finished the fight in the second with a powerful body shot.
Mike Brown, head coach at American Top Team and Nickal`s coach since his debut, discussed the defeat, acknowledging multiple contributing elements.
Writing on Instagram, Brown called it a “tough weekend” but suggested it “maybe was needed.” He noted that Nickal`s career has progressed rapidly, and he had achieved significant success (seven wins, six finishes) despite limited experience. Brown highlighted Nickal`s desirable attributes for MMA success: athleticism, confidence, strong family support, and an early start in combat sports like wrestling.
However, Brown emphasized the one crucial element Nickal lacks: live cage time. He stressed that real MMA fight experience is essential and irreplaceable. Brown admitted the team had reservations about the rapid pace of Nickal`s career progression and the risks of facing high-level opponents so early, but acknowledged Nickal`s unique talent and the UFC`s plan for him.
Despite being a significant favorite, Nickal faced an opponent with vastly more experience. Reinier de Ridder boasts an impressive resume, including being a two-division champion in ONE Championship.
From the outset, de Ridder pressed the action, consistently landing strikes, particularly to the body, in the clinch and throughout the fight. These body attacks proved crucial. De Ridder capitalized on an opening, landing a powerful knee strike that sent Nickal to the canvas and ended the bout.
Brown stated, “This past weekend, Bo`s lack of experience showed; his wrestling and athleticism weren`t enough to overcome what was in front of him.” He praised de Ridder (now 20-2), acknowledging his status as a former multiple-time two-division champion in the respected ONE Championship organization and crediting him for executing a strong game plan.
Following the loss, Nickal faced immediate criticism, with some suggesting the 29-year-old middleweight was “fraud checked” after the decisive defeat. Brown quickly pushed back against this narrative, gently reminding critics that Nickal is still very early in his MMA journey and arguing that this setback will ultimately contribute to his development.
While losing is never desired, Brown, drawing on his extensive experience as a fighter and now a respected coach, understands that defeats in combat sports often provide the opportunity to show resilience and the ability to bounce back.
Brown remarked, “This is the fight game, and it`s cliché, but this is where we learn. This is where we make changes and where we make the biggest gains.” He expressed confidence that this loss will motivate Nickal and help him elevate his focus.
He also offered a message to critics, urging them to remember that “Bo is nothing more than a man in an arena trying to support himself and his family.”
Marcus Blakely