Reinier de Ridder is preparing for a challenging fight against hyped prospect Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines, where he plans to leverage his grappling skills despite Nickal’s wrestling prowess, aiming to improve his position in the middleweight rankings.
Reinier de Ridder takes immense pride in being a mixed martial artist. Yet, he never shies away from showcasing his world-class grappling skills.
With 19 career wins under his belt, the former dual-division champ in ONE Championship boasts 13 submissions. Since joining the UFC, he’s already tapped out his first two opponents. But his upcoming fight at UFC Des Moines on May 3 poses an intriguing challenge. Why? Because he’ll face Bo Nickal, a three-time national champion wrestler and one of the most hyped prospects in UFC history.
Nickal’s grappling prowess is well-known. However, his last bout against Paul Craig drew criticism. He opted to stand and trade rather than go for takedowns, leaving many puzzled.
“It wasn’t that great to watch,” de Ridder shared with MMA Fighting about Nickal’s latest win. “But he showed off that his striking isn’t bad. Decent footwork too. He hits hard, especially with that left overhand. But no statement was made in that fight. Maybe just an off night?”
De Ridder feels confident matching his striking skills against Nickal, though that’s not why this matchup exists. This fight pits a top-tier submission specialist against an elite wrestler with a robust resume.
After observing Nickal’s reluctance to engage on the ground with Craig, de Ridder anticipates having to coax the Penn State alum into wrestling him. “I think I have to make him wrestle,” de Ridder said. “He seems wary of jiu-jitsu on the floor, scared of getting caught.”
To achieve this, de Ridder plans to close the distance and apply pressure. “Hit him a couple of times; he’ll start shooting,” he predicts. The clinch will likely be where the battle unfolds.
In past high-level grappler matchups in the UFC, fights often devolve into awkward striking contests as neither fighter wants to risk ground exchanges.
De Ridder doesn’t fear trading punches with Nickal but knows fans expect more from this co-main event. “Who wants to see us strike?” he chuckled. “Let’s have some fun like Demian Maia and Ben Askren in round one.”
Despite the jokes, de Ridder is prepared for anything Nickal throws at him. But make no mistake—he’ll force a grappling exchange if necessary.
Labeled as a submission specialist, de Ridder remembers his judo roots well. If he gets the chance to slam Nickal down, he won’t hesitate.
“I think [I can take him down],” de Ridder said confidently. Training with top wrestlers in Florida has honed his upper body work—a strength he hopes to leverage.
On paper, de Ridder risks more in this fight since he’s ranked in the top 15 at middleweight while Nickal remains unranked.
Hoping for a top-five opponent like Khamzat Chimaev initially, de Ridder acknowledges Nickal’s name value in UFC circles.
“I wanted a top-five guy but Bo Nickal is at least a top-five name,” de Ridder conceded. A win here could elevate his ranking significantly.
If de Ridder can derail Nickal’s hype train on May 3, it could position him favorably within the division hierarchy.
With current UFC middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis expected to face Chimaev soon and Nassourdine Imavov waiting after defeating Israel Adesanya impressively, opportunities abound.
De Ridder remains uncertain how high he might climb post-victory over Nickal but knows it positions him advantageously.
“A lot of guys at the top have fought each other,” he noted. “Who knows? If I do this right—choke him out early—I’ve got something to say.”