Bo Nickal, one of the most talked-about fighters on the UFC roster, expresses interest in fighting against Khamzat Chimaev, believing it could be a high-stakes battle between the two best middleweights in the world for the UFC title.
As one of the most highly anticipated fighters on UFC’s roster, Bo Nickal has several options on his plate. A potential bout against Khamzat Chimaev, in particular, is at the pinnacle of his wish list. Despite having just five professional fights, including a remarkable 38-second knockout in one of his two UFC fights at UFC 290, the three-time NCAA champion has become the topic of various fantasy match-ups. Even amid Israel Adesanya reigning as the 185-pound champion, Nickal encounters frequent queries about competing against Chimaev.
Nickal is geared up for a clash with Chimaev, as he stated during The MMA Hour, “I think everybody wants to see me fight Khamzat. I want to fight Khamzat, but I think we need to build more.” He referred to Chimaev’s long hiatus since his last fight against Kevin Holland, which he decisively won, and Nickal’s longing for a few more fights before facing Chimaev. Chimaev has been offstage since his laudable dispatch of Holland last September after a last-minute change in opponents due to his inability to meet the required weight for a scheduled bout with Nate Diaz.
Chimaev has reportedly been alluding to a forthcoming fight with former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and a potential shift to middleweight. Presently, all indicators are pointing to his return to UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi in October, although no fight has been booked. Nickal is eagerly looking forward to a match-up with Chimaev, which he deems deserving of special focus, patience and time. He envisions a grand encounter at Allegiant Stadium culminating with him triumphing over Chimaev.
He maintains his ultimate goal isn’t solely Chimaev but includes several high-profile UFC fights. Expressing his perspective on the awaited fight with Chimaev, he added, “That’s definitely a fight I think about, but there will probably be bigger fights down the line.” Nickal proposes a bout of such a magnitude should be a championship title fight between the world’s two best middleweights, intensifying the stakes considerably. He anticipated the 185-pound UFC undisputed belt on the line, not an interim or ‘BMF’ title, asserting, “If it’s for the belt, that could be the biggest fight.”