LAS VEGAS — There are the first draft picks, and then there are guys like LeBron James, Peyton Manning and Sidney Crosby. They’re the greats of the greats, guys who aren’t just stars but are changing the fortunes of the franchise and the city that lands them.
“Dana White’s Contender Series” has essentially become the UFC Draft, and on Tuesday’s Season 6 finale, it looks like the UFC may have nabbed the next James, Manning or Crosby.
Bo Nickal is so talented, so confident and so impressive that after finishing Donovan Beard in just 52 seconds with a triangle choke on Tuesday at Apex for ultimately win a UFC contract, he casually called Khamzat Chimaev.
That’s what the greats do, because they believe so much in themselves.
Of course, White dismissed that idea in his post-fight press conference, but if Nickal turns out to be who he appears to be, it won’t be long before a fight of this caliber is actually made for him.
James was one of the best players in the NBA before his rookie season was 2 months old. The same was true for guys like Manning and Crosby.
Nickal gives every indication that it will not just be your first choice garden strain, but an impact performer of this caliber.
White didn’t give Nickal a contract when he won his first Contender Series fight in 1:02 of the Season 6 opening week first round, but brought him back for another attempt. He was clearly vindicated by Nickal’s performance, but also blown away by it.
“My God,” White said. “Amazing, man. The kid is amazing. He looks great. Obviously that was a big step up in the competition. He fought somebody 7-1, reach advantage, height advantage. The The kid’s confidence in himself is incredible. His game is incredibly complete. Yes, he was impressive.
Nickal was the 2019 Hodge Trophy winner at Penn State following a collegiate wrestling career in which he won three NCAA championships and was a four-time All-American. He made the world’s toughest sport easy, winning all three of his MMA fights in 33, 62 and 52 seconds, respectively.
He comes from a very athletic family, so he has the genes that could help him go far in the sport. His grandfather and father were wrestling coaches, his father played college football, and his mother not only played college basketball, but she also did amateur boxing. They all quickly agreed when he said he wanted to fight, and it turns out to be a smart choice.
White said he would move him like he does with any other prospect, although Nickal is unlike any other prospect. He is a guy who will be making noise at the highest level very soon.
“Everyone I’m close to knows what I’m capable of and knows what I can do, but when the time comes more and more people will continue to jump on the bandwagon,” Nickal said. “It’s about developing and improving myself and honing all my skills.
“I’m always going to have a better wrestling base than anyone I fight. But at the end of the day, that’s not going to be enough to become a UFC champion and the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, which is my goal. So I need to sharpen my wrestling and all my other skills.
His other skills were on display early on Tuesday. There was a joke among the Octagonside reporters about how quickly Nickal would shoot for the takedown. Instead, he dropped Beard with a left crunch and rolled onto his back so he could slap the fight-ending triangle choke.
On a night of brilliant performances – Mateus Mendonca looked amazing and he and Rafael Estevam, Jack Jennkins and Sam Patterson all won contracts – Nickal stood head and shoulders above the rest. And no, he wasn’t joking about facing Chimaev.
“I think it’s a good match,” Nickal said of Chimaev. “Obviously he’s a top grappler and a top fighter. He is one of the best fighters not only in the division but also in the UFC. I have a lot of respect for his skills, but I also know what I am.
What he appears to be is to be one of the most talented fighters in company history. He has to turn that potential into performance, clearly, but he’s off to a good start at this point.
