Do you think Bo Nickal can be a top 5 contender?

[Takes Two To Tango]

There is a lot of talk about this guys wrestling being elite, best out there now.

I haven't been impressed with him at all.

He might not even crack top 10.

 

[Red Lantern]

I think he will be a Top 10 at best. I don't think his wrestling translate well so far in his MMA career. ANd even though he has only 7 fights, he is also 29. Won't have much time to improve.

This is also not a good moment for the supposed "best wrestler"

 

[Morning Star]

He's got work to do to get there. Not impossible but nothing I've seen so far shows he's ready to contend.

 

[mkt]

Doesn't look good so far. The best comparison I can think of is Weidman, another D1 wrestler. Bo has had 7 fights so far. Weidman fought and beat Maia in his 8th fight and I'm pretty sure they spent some time on the ground. And Maia was more dangerous than Craig. Weidman fought for the belt and won it by his 10th fight.

I'm not saying Bo has to follow the same path, but he's clearly not at a young Weidman's level yet.

Maybe Weidman vs. Bo would be an interesting fight, come to think of it.

 

[Red Lantern]

For comparison, Ed Ruth was a highly decorated college wrestler as well. He has pretty mediocre record compared to his wrestling pedigree when he competed in Bellator.

In regards to MMA, the transition is not always smooth. I don't think the best boxer would be the best striker either if they come to MMA, it depends on style.

For example, I think if Floyd Mayweather fought Maidana in MMA, I think he would lose. Maidana is the more grittier fighter and I think would mess Floyd up in the clinch. But with boxing glove, FLoyd can block punches really well which he won't be able to do in MMA.

 

[Adamant]

I think he can do it. UFC should give him a ranked opponent next to hurry his journey along. How many unranked guy is he going to have to fight?

 

[Leonard Haid]

A lot of elite MMA minds have said that wrestling is the most important MMA skill to have, so if that's really the case, then Bo would have to be a shoo-in for at least a top 10 spot. He's already shown that he can neutralize an elite groundgame specialist by keeping it on the feet, and as he gets better there's no reason to believe that he can't neutralize an elite striker by keeping it on the ground. Top 5? I don't know....his striking didn't look very good....

 

[Doctor Grudge]

For comparison, Ed Ruth was a highly decorated college wrestler as well. He has pretty mediocre record compared to his wrestling pedigree when he competed in Bellator.

In regards to MMA, the transition is not always smooth. I don't think the best boxer would be the best striker either if they come to MMA, it depends on style.

For example, I think if Floyd Mayweather fought Maidana in MMA, I think he would lose. Maidana is the more grittier fighter and I think would mess Floyd up in the clinch. But with boxing glove, FLoyd can block punches really well which he won't be able to do in MMA.

That sounds like a lot of stereotypes of how MMA fighting works. Being grittier doesn't mean anything in MMA, and blocking punches (I'm not sure what you mean by this, as Floyd is evasive) does work in MMA as we've seen with Sean Strickland.

 

[RoyJonesJr]

In due time

His striking looked good, but he was timid


He mainly spammed one shot over and over again, but his timing was good

Once he starts mixing it up more, and adds more tools he'll be top 5

 

[mkt]

For comparison, Ed Ruth was a highly decorated college wrestler as well. He has pretty mediocre record compared to his wrestling pedigree when he competed in Bellator.

In regards to MMA, the transition is not always smooth. I don't think the best boxer would be the best striker either if they come to MMA, it depends on style.

For example, I think if Floyd Mayweather fought Maidana in MMA, I think he would lose. Maidana is the more grittier fighter and I think would mess Floyd up in the clinch. But with boxing glove, FLoyd can block punches really well which he won't be able to do in MMA.

True. And I'm pretty sure Bo and Ruth are more athletic than Ben Askren. Yet Askren was quite successful in Bellator and One, though not against the best competition.

I wonder if some of these newer wrestlers are trying too hard to be "complete MMA fighters" and would do better if they doubled down on their wrestling a bit? That's what the earlier wrestlers in the sport did (Couture, Tito, Hughes, Chael, etc.).

 

[Dirtball]

Underrated, underatted, underatted.

 

[AmonTobin]

I think he can do it. UFC should give him a ranked opponent next to hurry his journey along. How many unranked guy is he going to have to fight?

Is there any ranked guy in particular, you think he could beat right now?

 

[CasualBot]

underatted, underatted.

2007 called...

 

[Adamant]

Is there any ranked guy in particular, you think he could beat right now?

Whether he can or can't, I'd like so see him give it a go. He's spinning his wheels fighting unranked tomato cans, and talking like he's a world beater. Let's see him put his money where his mouth is.

Pereira, Hernandez, Hermansson, and Costa all interest me.

 

[Red Lantern]

That sounds like a lot of stereotypes of how MMA fighting works. Being grittier doesn't mean anything in MMA, and blocking punches (I'm not sure what you mean by this, as Floyd is evasive) does work in MMA as we've seen with Sean Strickland.

I highlighted how FLoyd relies on blocking with the big gloves. He always put up high defense when he got cornered like in Maidana and Pac fight. That doesnt work in MMA.

They would just take him down if he got cornered and put up high blocks like that. Which is why I believe Artem Vakhitov wont be successful either, he also relies alot on the big gloves when he blocks punches in kickboxing.

 

[Red Lantern]

True. And I'm pretty sure Bo and Ruth are more athletic than Ben Askren. Yet Askren was quite successful in Bellator and One, though not against the best competition.

I wonder if some of these newer wrestlers are trying too hard to be "complete MMA fighters" and would do better if they doubled down on their wrestling a bit? That's what the earlier wrestlers in the sport did (Couture, Tito, Hughes, Chael, etc.).

Askren is crazy strong. Its weird how he has no power in his punches but he can lift guys up easily even guys sprawl he would usually find a way to take them down again. And his cardio is great too.

I think @Marko Polo also made good point, Bo seems really scared to get hit and I think that may influence his game.

 

[bartleby929]

No chance. Bo looks undersized and I think we've seen the extent of his striking evolution.

 

[FreddieRoachsVoice]

Yes but less because of his merit and more because 155 has become one of the worst divisions in the sport with most ranked fighters near the end of their careers.

While this is a low period in MMA overall, 155 feels like it still has the exact same contenders as it did 6 years ago and the UFC has done a poor job of restocking the shelves with new talent. Nickal will probably get there just by aging them out not to mention his name value will give him a boost no matter who he beats.

Decent fighter but absolutely has not done anything to be earning this PPV main card slots yet

 

[sonhow]

With right matchups he can be champ. Dunno if he can beat everyone in div.

 

[ryun253]

Askren is crazy strong. Its weird how he has no power in his punches but he can lift guys up easily even guys sprawl he would usually find a way to take them down again. And his cardio is great too.

I think @Marko Polo also made good point, Bo seems really scared to get hit and I think that may influence his game.

He never learned how to punch properly... his balance is always forward and pretty much all arms,maybe it's his gym... never knew how to use his legs & hips for punching