The old saying “slow and steady wins the race” may be common advice, but it’s not always easy to put into practice—especially in a high-pressure sport like MMA. Yet, Bo Nickal seems to be doing just that. Despite criticism from fans questioning his relatively infrequent appearances in the Octagon, the American Top Team standout has a clear approach and a measured response to his critics.

On a recent episode of Mighty Cast, Nickal spoke with Demetrious Johnson and explained his decision to not overexert himself in his fighting career. The 3-time NCAA wrestling champion and top UFC prospect emphasized the importance of taking his time to develop, rather than rushing in. “For me, the most important thing is developing. I don’t want to skip steps in my growth,” Nickal said. He also mentioned how other young fighters, like Diego Lopes, might feel ready due to their experience, with “20-plus pro fights” under their belts. But for Nickal, it’s about steady improvement over rapid ascension.

Nickal, whose professional UFC career began in 2022, offered context for his timeline: “I’ve fought six times in just over two years. I wouldn’t call that infrequent—maybe people forget that I’ve only been fighting professionally since summer 2022. Getting six fights in that time, I’d say that’s…pretty solid.” As a Colorado native with a fresh tenure in the UFC, Nickal is content with his pace.

Khamzat Chimaev and Bo Nickal are both currently at 185lbs in the UFC but they approach training and fighting with strikingly different philosophies. The 28-year-old Nickal prioritizes rest and recovery, allowing himself time to recuperate before returning to training or stepping into the Octagon.

In contrast, Chimaev, known for his relentless drive, tends to train intensely and frequently, often pushing himself to the limit. This high-intensity approach has, at times, backfired; overtraining has led Chimaev to bouts of illness and a lack of endurance in fights. His rigorous regimen once forced him to withdraw from a scheduled fight against Robert Whittaker in June 2024. Recently, however, Chimaev has restructured his training to strike a healthier balance, which seemed to benefit him in his recent UFC 308 fight against Whittaker.

Recently, Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, shared his thoughts on a potential matchup between Nickal and Chimaev on Suga’s YouTube channel. Welch commented, “I feel like Bo Nickal right now might get beat up by Khamzat,” acknowledging Chimaev’s current edge in experience and skill. However, he added that with improvements in his striking game, Nickal could become a genuine threat to Chimaev in the future.

Tim Welch doubles down on the last hope of defeating Khamzat Chimaev

On a recent episode of the Timbo Sugar Show, Tim Welch and Sean O’Malley discussed Khamzat Chimaev’s growing dominance in the UFC and his status as a formidable threat in the middleweight division. According to Welch, Bo Nickal may be the division’s “only hope” of defeating the Chechen powerhouse.

Welch elaborated, saying, “People got—I mean, people were fired up. I tweeted, ‘Bo Nickal might be our only hope.’ They were fired up about that. I didn’t mean Bo Nickal right now; I feel like Bo Nickal right now might get beat up by Khamzat. But in a year and a half, if Bo keeps developing his striking, he’s one guy who could match his wrestling in the middleweight division.” Welch sees potential in Nickal’s skill set, suggesting that with more time to sharpen his striking, Nickal could pose a legitimate challenge to Chimaev in the future.

Chimaev, however, seems less impressed by Nickal’s wrestling prowess. After watching Nickal’s recent UFC 300 bout, Chimaev posted a critique on X, saying, “That wrestling was bull**.” Nickal responded in good spirits during an appearance on The MMA Hour, saying, “The fact that he’s recognizing it and he sees what’s coming, too, I think that it’s good for everybody.”

Could we see these two middleweight juggernauts clash in the Octagon shortly? Share your predictions in the comments below!