Bo Nickal has set the record straight on his viral claim that he could “ragdoll” Khamzat Chimaev, explaining that his comments were taken out of context and referred purely to wrestling – not mixed martial arts.
Nickal, a former three-time NCAA Division I national champion and world champion wrestler, made waves early in his MMA career not just for his dominant performances, but also for his unwavering confidence.
That self-assuredness rubbed some fans the wrong way, particularly after his recent loss to Reinier de Ridder, which halted his unbeaten momentum and raised questions about his long-term potential in the sport.
Still, Nickal remains unfazed.
Ahead of his upcoming bout with Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 322, the 28-year-old contender made it clear he’s focused on proving he belongs among the elite — and that his earlier comments about Chimaev were never meant as trash talk:
All the stuff I said about ragdolling him — that was about wrestling, not an MMA fight.
In a straight-up freestyle or collegiate match, it’s not competitive.
I’m a three-time national champ, a world champion — I’ve beaten the best in the world.But in MMA, that’s a war.
That’s a scrap.I’ve got to win fights first, but one day that matchup would be incredible.
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