In the realm of mixed martial arts, UFC star Khamzat Chimaev expressed his unimpressed views on Bo Nickal’s performance at UFC 300. Despite Nickal’s victory, Chimaev, who is undefeated himself, criticized the wrestling techniques displayed by Nickal, a wrestler with three NCAA national championships under his belt. Chimaev’s blunt critique was shared on social media, where he described Nickal’s wrestling as “big bulls**t,” accompanied by a rolling on the floor laughing emoji and a man facepalming emoji.
During the fight, Nickal faced Cody Brundage, who proved to be a formidable opponent. Brundage successfully resisted Nickal’s initial attempts at a choke in the first round, despite being pinned down. However, Nickal ramped up the pressure in the second round, using ground and pound tactics to force Brundage into a vulnerable position. Nickal then secured a rear-naked choke, marking his sixth consecutive win and fourth by submission.
Despite securing the win, Nickal was his own harshest critic. Immediately after the match, he booed his performance and signaled a thumbs down. In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Nickal expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he felt embarrassed for not completely dominating and shutting Brundage out. He acknowledged giving Brundage too many opportunities but also recognized the value of gaining experience from lasting beyond the first round for the first time in his UFC career.
Nickal’s self-critique was rooted in his high expectations for himself. He aimed to finish the fight earlier but also appreciated the chance to gain additional in-ring experience. His previous five fights had all ended within the first three minutes, and his UFC 300 bout was a new milestone, as it was the first time he entered the second round. Reflecting on the fight, Nickal commented on the importance of having that experience and the lessons learned from it.
The conversation around the fight extended beyond the octagon, with a poll being conducted to gauge public opinion on whether Khamzat Chimaev is a better wrestler than Bo Nickal. The poll invited fans to cast their votes and join in the discussion, further fueling the debate on the wrestling prowess of these two UFC fighters.
