“I was pumped. They were like, ‘Booooo.’ How many times does Madison Square Garden chant your name for that long? So yeah, I was fired up. It was great.” UFC middleweight Bo Nickal said as he reflected on the chorus of boos he received during his underwhelming bout with Paul Craig at UFC 309. While the American laughed it off during the post-fight press conference, he’s well aware that the UFC has little patience for dull performances. Just ask Muhammad Mokaev—an undefeated prospect who was cut from the roster after being criticized for his boring wrestling-heavy fighting style.

Determined not to suffer the same fate, the Penn State Alum is embracing a new mindset as he prepares for his return at UFC Des Moines—the promotion’s second trip to Iowa. This time, he’ll square off against a seasoned grappling veteran and former two-division champion from ONE Championship, Reinier de Ridder. Against such an elite opponent, there’s no room for playing it safe.

Looking to sharpen his focus, Nickal has drawn inspiration from the Bible, leaning on faith to fuel his discipline, work ethic, and mindset. With fight night just around the corner, he recently closed out camp and gave fans a glimpse into his journey via Instagram: “Wrapped up 6 weeks down in Florida and couldn’t be more grateful. 2 weeks out from the next step. Proverbs 6:6-8.”

The verse speaks of the ‘ant’—how it works tirelessly and purposefully, even without supervision or applause. And that same quiet determination seems to be driving Bo forward. At just 29, the three-time NCAA champion has built an impressive resume in the UFC’s middleweight division. He remains undefeated, with three of his four Octagon appearances ending in finishes.

The only fight to go the distance—his decision win over Paul Craig—drew criticism for its lack of action, marking what many saw as a rare misstep in his otherwise stellar rise. But the former NCAA star isn’t one to dwell. Determined to learn from the past, he’s pushing forward with momentum and a renewed focus. Now, with the next challenge on the horizon, he’s setting his sights on what could be a major showdown in the middleweight division. Let’s break it down.

Bo Nickal weighs in on a potential Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis matchup

The middleweight division is on the brink of a major shake-up, and fans might not have to wait much longer for answers. It’s been over two months since Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his title in a gritty rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Australia. Since then, the rumor mill has been buzzing, with UFC CEO Dana White teasing that Khamzat Chimaev is “probably” next in line.

Du Plessis hasn’t shied away from that possibility either. He’s openly called for a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev—a man whose relentless wrestling has struck fear into the hearts of the division. Ranked #3 and still undefeated, ‘Borz’ is a stylistic nightmare for most. But concerns about his frequent inactivity and recurring health issues continue to cast a shadow over his title hopes. Meanwhile, ‘Stillknocks’ has built steady momentum.

With a bizarre yet effective fighting style and an unblemished UFC record, the South African has emerged as a durable and unpredictable force, making this potential clash all the more intriguing. Even Bo Nickal, one of the division’s rising stars, is torn when it comes to predicting the outcome. Speaking to MMA Junkie, he shared his honest assessment:

“That’s an amazing fight. I think those are two guys that have tremendous belief in themselves. They go out and fight extremely hard. So I think you have to give the grappling edge to Khamzat. I think you give the conditioning edge to Dricus, and the striking maybe leans a little bit toward Dricus, but it’s pretty much a toss-up. That’s going to be an entertaining fight. Whenever two guys believe in themselves like that, it’s 50-50.”

With so much going on in the middleweight division, where do you see Bo Nickal in the coming years? Do you think this former NCAA star has what it takes to become the leader of the division? Share your thoughts below.