The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric, yet a strange tension filled the air. Bo Nickal, the undefeated middleweight sensation, stepped into the Octagon at UFC 309 as a towering -1200 favorite. His opponent, Paul Craig, was no easy target, but the crowd seemed less interested in his opponent and more focused on Nickal himself. Chants of “overrated” echoed through the arena, casting a shadow over the young phenom’s victory. Has the hype finally outpaced the fighter?

The fight itself unfolded in a calculated fashion with the bout being more of a chess match than a slugfest. In the opening round, Nickal worked to find his range while Craig stayed on the outside, his size advantage apparent. Nickal mixed his stances and tested with leg kicks, but the pace was deliberate, leaving fans hungry for more. A few single shots landed here and there, with Nickal occasionally throwing big but failing to truly engage Craig. As the round closed, the crowd’s energy began to wane.

In the final round, Nickal picked up the pace, landing head strikes with greater accuracy. He connected on 57% of his significant strikes, a statistic that spoke to his technical prowess but failed to inspire the kind of excitement fans had come to expect. By the end of the fight, the scorecards unanimously favored Nickal at 30-27. While he took the time to have a chat with President-elect Donald Trump cage-side after the win, the crowd filled the air with chants of “overrated” directed at Nickal.

So, why the backlash? Could it be that fans expected Nickal to dominate with his vaunted wrestling skills and unrelenting pressure? Or perhaps they were simply disappointed by the lack of fireworks in a fight built up as a showcase of his talents? Here’s a look at what the online community had to say.

Bo Nickal comes under fire as UFC 309 performance against Paul Craig leaves MMA sphere wanting more

UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, who has been sidelined due to a recent bone infection in his foot cast a close eye on the UFC 309 clash between Nickal and Craig. In a post on X, ‘Remember the Name’ took a shot at both Craig and Sean Strickland for the perceived lack of action and excitement in their fights. With the loss against Nickal, Craig has now lost 3-fights in a row, casting a shadow of doubt over what’s next for ‘Bearjew’.

Belal Muhammad: “Paul Craig during a faceoff and Strickland during a presser seem like they’re about to have the craziest fights in the world until the cage door locks”

Meanwhile, Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen had a different take. He pointed out that “casual” fans are the ones incensed at Nickal’s performance. So, why the lack of activity from Nickal? Could it be because of a fear of Craig’s impressive submission game off his back which allowed him to submit names like Magomed Ankalaev and Nikita Krylov? What do you think?

Johnny Eblen: “This is why casuals sucks lol y’all donno shit. Good sh*t Bo”

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill chimed in with a series of yawning emojis echoing the fan sentiments for the UFC 309 bout between Paul Craig and Nickal. Surprisingly, Hill is one name on Craig’s win column as the Scottish warrior finished ‘Sweet Dreams’ via TKO at UFC 263 in 2021. However, he couldn’t do the same against Nickal.

Jamahal Hill: “ 🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱”

Others were appalled at the betting lines which heavily favored Bo Nickal coming into the matchup against Craig. While he did show off his technical striking abilities, the entire affair showed a critical lack of “urgency” from the middleweight prospect. Something his ‘rival’ Khamzat Chimaev displayed in stunning fashion against Robert Whittaker recently!

“I’m thinking Bo Nickal won’t be a -1200 favorite next time out. Needed to show a lot more urgency tonight.”

The jabs kept coming as fans also pointed out that a 3-time NCAA Division 1 champion not shooting a single takedown or engaging in a grappling exchange is a worrying look.

“A National Champion not using his wrestling is like the Hawk-Tua girl not spitting”

In conclusion, Bo Nickal left UFC 309 with his undefeated record intact, yet the echoes of “overrated” from Madison Square Garden linger louder than the cheers for his victory. The night was a stark reminder that dominance in combat sports isn’t just about winning—it’s about delivering moments that resonate. Nickal’s calculated approach may have secured the unanimous decision, but questions loom over whether he can bridge the gap between potential and impact. What did you think of Bo Nickal’s performance at UFC 309? Do you think the hype surrounding him will slow down after this fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below !