LAS VEGAS – Bo Nickal is prepared for a step up in competitors, and had a reputation on his thoughts instantly after defeating Cody Brundage at UFC 300.
Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) submitted Brundage (10-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC) within the second spherical of the pay-per-view opener, in what was one other smothering efficiency from the undefeated wrestler. Throughout his in-octagon post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Nickal referred to as out Anthony Hernandez.
Throughout a post-fight information convention, Nickal expanded upon why he selected to name out the UFC-ranked No. 12 middleweight.
“I simply suppose that may be a enjoyable struggle, an awesome struggle,” Nickal instructed reporters. “He’s a man that has nice cardio, wrestling, good putting – he’s well-rounded and bought a giant win in his final struggle. Very shortly, if it’s not my subsequent struggle, will probably be quickly, however that’s the kind of guys I wish to be preventing.
“He was only a title that got here to my thoughts as a result of I watched his struggle just lately, however any of those guys round that rating, round that a part of the division are guys that I’m prepared for.”
Nickal was his personal worst critic after stopping Brundage. After the referee stopped the struggle, Nickal instantly gave himself two thumbs down, as a result of he anticipated to fully dominate the struggle. There have been a couple of intense moments in early putting exchanges that Nickal admitted he needed to go for the knockout to win a $300K bonus, however finally bought again to what he does greatest within the grappling division.
If the UFC needs to see him develop a little bit extra earlier than going through ranked opponents, Nickal is on board, however he sees “Fluffy” Hernandez as a stable subsequent step up in competitors.
“If I’ve to get a pair extra fights earlier than I’m preventing ranked guys, then that’s positive,” Nickal mentioned. “That’s a dialogue between myself and the UFC, however I wish to begin preventing higher guys, and he’s a man I see as a greater fighter.”
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