Reinier de Ridder dramatically halted the momentum surrounding Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines on Saturday, securing a brutal knockout victory in the co-main event with a devastating body shot.
Despite the fight being framed as a clash of wrestling styles, de Ridder showcased his striking prowess, consistently landing powerful knees during clinch exchanges. This sustained pressure culminated in a devastating knee to Nickal`s body as he attempted to evade, causing him to instantly collapse to the canvas.
The referee quickly intervened to stop the contest at 1:53 of the second round, marking the end of Bo Nickal`s previously undefeated professional record.
Reflecting on his striking performance that led to the finish, de Ridder lightheartedly remarked, “I was just going to say, I’ve been spending so much time in the U.S., I wanted to see if I was still Dutch.”
He then immediately issued a challenge, stating, “I wanted to say this is the best American wrestling you have, right? Now give you the best American striker. [Sean] Strickland, you’re up, buddy! Let’s go.”
Even before the knockout and subsequent callout, de Ridder had demonstrated superior control throughout the fight, effectively frustrating Nickal in various exchanges.
The bout began with Nickal attempting powerful strikes, while de Ridder persistently threatened takedowns, leading to battles for position against the cage. Nickal did manage a skillful reversal to take the fight to the ground, but de Ridder expertly escaped a guillotine choke attempt and gained top control.
De Ridder maintained this dominant position briefly before Nickal successfully worked his way back to his feet.
As the second round commenced, de Ridder continued to engage in the clinch, landing hard knees to Nickal`s body. Nickal appeared fatigued and struggled to maintain position, resorting to throwing wide punches in an attempt to push de Ridder away.
His efforts were in vain, as de Ridder responded with more precise strikes, including the decisive, powerful knee delivered directly to Nickal`s midsection. The three-time NCAA wrestling champion immediately collapsed, prompting referee Mike Beltran to swiftly stop the bout and prevent further damage.
This was a significant moment for Reinier de Ridder, improving his UFC record to 3-0 and, more importantly, securing a major victory against one of the most highly regarded prospects in recent mixed martial arts history.
With this impressive win, he is now in a position to potentially choose his next opponent, having already specifically called out former champion Sean Strickland.
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham