Bo Nickal’s performance at UFC 309 was supposed to be a milestone in his meteoric MMA rise. The former three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion faced Paul Craig, a seasoned veteran known for his knack for upsetting elite opponents. Nevertheless, Nickdal did the expected and secured a unanimous decision victory. For many, it was a defining moment. Yet, Daniel Cormier’s commentary cast a shadow over Nickal’s triumph, striking a nerve with the middleweight star.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani after the fight, the 28-year-old expressed his disappointment by stating, “To hear things like ‘DC’ say, ‘Oh, he’s not ready for Khamzat’ — I think he was trying to be respectful, but also trying to like, I dunno, maybe set me down a peg.” However, Daniel Cormier isn’t backing down as he recently highlighted why Khamzat Chimaev is still levels above Nickal!

Daniel Cormier doubles down on Bo Nickal not being “ready” for someone like ‘Borz’ yet

During a recent conversation with Chael Sonnen on the ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ show on YouTube, Cormier stated, “So Chael, I was getting it bad the other day from everybody bro, like, so Bo Nickal was also a little disappointed in the broadcasting because we said he’s not ready for Khamzat yet. Bro come on… That was not… I didn’t think it was a bad performance, I thought he fought pretty well.”

But he brought up an interesting point. The former ‘champ-champ’ highlighted the fact that, “…he just started training in 2021, he’s turned pro in 2022, he’s two years in, he’s already 7-0 now” and the win over Craig, a man who’s defeated former champions and title contenders, was a significant step forward. Cormier acknowledged as much, calling it a “big step up in competition for a guy that’s so new.”

But for Cormier, Nickal’s journey isn’t a sprint. He urged patience, suggesting the fighter needs time to hone his skills before facing top contenders like Khamzat Chimaev. ‘Borz’ also holds an undefeated record in the UFC, but has only gone to decision twice in his 8 appearances inside the Octagon. He recently dismantled former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308 and is now poised to make a run for the middleweight crown.

As such, Cormier wrapped up his thoughts by stating, “Essentially, what I was saying Chael was, slow down. He’s not ready for something bigger just yet, doesn’t need to be fighting the best guys in the world just because he needs time to get experience. But he took offense to that, he got a little bit hurt.”

Fighters need time to refine their skills before stepping into the Octagon against the sport’s elite, and Nickal is no exception. While the rising middleweight star may feel slighted, Daniel Cormier’s comments stem from a place of caution and respect for the young fighter’s potential. In fact, in a surprising exchange on social media, the two have now put their ‘beef’ to rest!

Nickal and Cormier appear to finally be on the same page

At the UFC 309 showdown between Bo Nickal and Paul Craig, instead of fireworks, fans were treated to a methodical 15-minute affair, culminating in Nickal’s unanimous decision win. For some, it was a strategic performance. For others, it was a spark that failed to ignite. While the commentary team and Daniel Cormier suggested Nickal wasn’t ready to face a juggernaut like ‘Borz’ next, the young fighter felt slighted by the assessment.

As such, in a video on his YouTube channel after the event, Cormier explained, “People have already started to compare him to Khamzat Chimaev, how do they stack up, can he wrestle him, can he do this? That’s not a real thing! It’s not a real thing! I’m not saying he’s not ready for Khamzat because I don’t think he ever will be ready for Khamzat. Right now he just isn’t.”

The essence of Cormier’s message was simple: timing is everything. Fighters thrust into the spotlight too quickly often find themselves overwhelmed. The message may have gone through to Nickal as he responded to Cormier’s video on social media by stating, “Absolutely agree. I have room for improvement and I appreciate the clarification @dc_mma thank you”

But as the debate around Nickal’s potential continues in the MMA sphere, one question lingers: should he be fast-tracked to the top, or should he bide his time to truly become a force in the middleweight division? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!