Bump Up the Gain!
Contender Bo Nikal discusses his 101 kg weight prior to his encounter with René de Ryder
UFC is heating up with Bo Nickal set to wrestle former two-time ONE Championship champion Reinier de Ridder in the co-main event on May 4. During a social media post earlier in the week, Nickal shared a picture with a weight of 101 kg, much higher than the required middleweight limit of 84.4 kg. He cleared the air in an interview with MMA Fighting:
"I've been focused on bulking up for the past few months to become a top-tier middleweight. This hefty weight isn't a cause for concern - it's part of the process. I've weighed in for wrestling countless times since I was a kid, so this isn't new to me."
Tackling the shock factor, Nickal stated, "Of course, the weight was higher than normal, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. I was still in a hoodie and other gear, so the actual weight was a bit less." He acknowledged the need to shed the excess pounds, adding, "Yeah, there's still some work I need to do, but it's all part of the package."
Reflecting on his career, the 29-year-old wrestler confirmed that the Des Moines weight cut was the toughest of his career, but he's already well on his way to meeting the challenge. He boasts a record of seven wins and zero defeats.
"Bookmakers might be intrigued by Bo Nickal's unusual weight of 101 kg, a drastic bulking-up process for his middleweight bout. Despite this, he reassures everyone that it's part of his strategy to become a top-tier middleweight. Nickal has a confirmed record of seven wins and zero defeats, making him a formidable contender in sports."
