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Bo Nickal is ready for the next challenge in his MMA journey as he steps into the octagon against a ranked opponent for the first time. The undefeated wrestling phenom will take on former ONE Championship double champ Reinier de Ridder in a highly anticipated middleweight clash at UFC Fight Night on May 3. The event will take place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
The fight was officially confirmed by the UFC on Friday, following an initial report by Full Send MMA. Nickal (7-0), a decorated collegiate wrestler and winner of the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy, has quickly climbed the UFC ranks since making his professional debut. After impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, he signed with the UFC and secured dominant finishes over Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage. His most recent victory came against Paul Craig at UFC 300, though some fans criticized the fight for its lack of excitement.
Standing in Nickal’s way is Reinier de Ridder (19-2), a former ONE Championship light heavyweight and heavyweight titleholder. De Ridder was one of ONE’s biggest stars before parting ways with the promotion after losing both his belts to Anatoly Malykhin. Seeking more activity and better opportunities, he signed with the UFC in 2024 and has since notched back-to-back submission wins over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland.
With Nickal looking to prove himself against top-tier competition and de Ridder aiming to extend his UFC success, this matchup promises fireworks. The fight will serve as one of the key bouts on a stacked UFC Fight Night card that also features Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Mason Jones vs. Jeremy Stephens, and Miesha Tate vs. Yana Santos, among others.
For Nickal, the answer is simple: he’s a relentless competitor who refuses to back down from a challenge. On May 3, he’ll have the chance to back up his ambitions against one of the toughest opponents of his career.