UFC fighter, Bo Nickal, reveals he may take a break to spend time with his pregnant wife and go on hunting trips, yet remains focused on preparing for future title defenses, not caring about the social media hype but aiming to become one of the greatest of all time in the sport.
Bo Nickal claims victory over Val Woodburn in a record 38 seconds at UFC 290. Following the lightning-quick win, the 27-year-old prospect revealed plans for time off, announcing both the birth of his first child and future hunting trips. Although some speculate Nickal could easily return to the ring for a fight or two before the culmination of 2023, the aim of his career trajectory isn’t to hastily return to fighting.
Nickal’s stance on his future fighting schedule is twofold. “There’s a chance [I don’t fight again this year],” he revealed during The MMA Hour. Despite the ability to arrange for additional matches, his focus is not on his next fight but preparing for his tenth title defense. He suggests that frequent fights may heighten anticipation among fans, but he does not prioritize fame in his career. “I don’t care about hype, or how much people are talking about me. I’m just here to fight,” he said.
Nickal’s decision to take a break from fighting may slow down his ascension in the middleweight rankings. His professional career started in June 2022, and within a short span of 13 months, he has built an untarnished 5-0 resume with two wins in the UFC and two wins on The Contender Series. Regardless of his wins, Nickal as given importance to his training camps, and after an intense year of fighting, he is considering slowing down. “Like I announced, my wife is pregnant, and I want to make sure I’m there for her,” he explained, additionally outlining plans for various hunting trips.
While Nickal anticipates possible future fights, he intends to spend time training. He stated, “It’s definitely possible that I fight again this year but I’m going to be in the gym getting better.” With a practical outlook about his career, Nickal is not in a hurry to challenge top 15 ranked opposition. He is confident that he has enough prime fighting years left to achieve his goals, including claiming a championship belt. Despite these professional objectives, he emphasized he was in no rush. Nickal mansifested that he wants his career to have a lasting impact and hopes to be considered one of the greatest fighters of all time, focusing less on temporary hype and more on his long-term goals.