Too Soon! A Tenderfoot like Bo Nickal not ready for killer Khamzat

UltimateGround
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Tim Welch, a former MMA fighter who now coaches ex-bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, is convinced that undefeated 185-pound up-and-comer Bo Nickal is the only fighter capable of stopping fellow unbeaten middleweight phenom Khamzat Chimaev.

But not until he grows up in 2026.

“I tweeted, ‘Bo Nickal might be our only hope.’ [People] were fired up about that. I didn’t mean Bo Nickal right now,” Welch said on YouTube. “[I] feel like Bo Nickal right now might get beat up by Khamzat.”
“But in a year-and-a-half, if Bo keeps developing his striking, he’s one guy who could match his wrestling in the middleweight division,” Welch continued.

Nickal would certainly be a step up from Swedish teenagers.

Chimaev (14-0) may not have to worry about Nickal for quite some time, considering he’s ranked No. 3 in the division after laying waste to Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. As for Nickal (6-0), he remains unranked at middleweight but can add to his winning ways when he battles Paul Craig at UFC 309 in New York.

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Many believe that Chimaev may have leapfrogged Sean Strickland for a shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship. The reigning titleholder is Dricus du Plessis, and he recently admitted he’d prefer to face Chimaev next because he anticipates a more exciting fight. In early 2024, du Plessis defeated Strickland to capture the 185-pound gold via split decision.

A title win for Chimaev over du Plessis would certainly help Mendez’s argument. Whether or not UFC matchmakers feel “Borz” is a better option for du Plessis’ next title challenger over Strickland remains to be seen. BJPenn.com will keep you up to speed with the latest updates on the UFC middleweight title picture.

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No one at 185 has shit for kumshot. I honestly think he has the perfect style to even beat Alex, dudes non stop in your face.

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Mulatto’s are very strange.

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Let’s see how he does against my boy bearjew?

I really like Bo and a match between him and Khamzat will be great.

But Bo could find himself getting choked out by Paul Craig if and when he goes for a takedown, guilly or Triangle