Bo Nickal and Khamzat Chimaev, two undefeated middleweights, both with spectacular wrestling skills. But will the fans get to see a clash between these two any time soon? According to Nickal, they may already be on a collision course! The 3-time NCAA Division 1 champion is set to step into the Octagon at UFC 309 to take on Paul Craig in his fourth UFC appearance.

Meanwhile, ‘Borz’ recently took on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 and dismantled him in just one round! But how does Nickal truly see his rivalry with the Chechen warrior? The answer may be surprising as he recently confirmed that a fight between them is truly “inevitable”!

Bo Nickal confesses “respect” as the fuel behind rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev 

During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Bo Nickal was asked to share his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev’s performance against ‘The Reaper’ and when their paths would possibly collide. For Nickal, watching Chimaev dismantle a powerhouse like Whittaker wasn’t just a fight as he explained, “To see somebody do that to a veteran, a guy’s who’s been champion, defended his belt, that’s an incredible feat. So, watching the fight, [I] felt very impressed.” So, what about the timeline for him facing off against Chimaev?

Bo Nickal confessed, “I think that every time I fight, we get closer. He’s obviously quite a ways ahead of me and you know, I’m just looking to catch up and, it seems like, as you said, that’s kind of an inevitable thing. As long as I keep winning, and he keeps winning, then we’ll make it work.”

Khamzat Chimaev had a head-start over Nickal as he made his UFC debut in 2020, while the American wrestling stand-out stepped into the Octagon for the first time in 2023 after two successful stints on DWCS (Dana White’s Contender Series). While both men have yet to face defeat in the UFC, Chimaev’s performance against Whittaker catapulted him to the  #3 spot in the middleweight division and in the conversations for title contention.

So, what does the future hold for these two? According to Nickal, “I’ve always had a lot of respect for him, I never felt like calling him out was a disrespectful thing, it’s like, I think he’s the best so you know, that’s a guy I want to fight, it would be great. We don’t really get to choose our rivals, but that would be awesome.”

As the UFC universe speculates, Nickal remains focused, determined, and humble. He’s not looking to make enemies—he’s looking to make history. And if that history involves going toe-to-toe with Chimaev, he’s ready. It’s not out of spite or rivalry for rivalry’s sake. For Nickal, facing Chimaev is about honoring the craft and challenging himself against the best. But what would happen when these two titans with elite wrestling skills step into the Octagon? A UFC veteran has some ideas, and his perspective could surprise you!

Chael Sonnen thinks Nickal and Chimaev will cancel out each other’s wrestling skills

Khamzat Chimaev and Bo Nickal—the mere thought of these two warriors meeting in the Octagon stirs up a frenzy of anticipation in the MMA sphere. But Chael Sonnen has a unique perspective on this potential showdown.  In a recent video on his YouTube channel, the UFC veteran and analyst explained, “If you want to know who’s going to get the other one off their feet between Bo and Chimaev, it’s a fairly unlikely thing that either of them is going to do that.”  

When Nickal triumphed over Cody Brundage at UFC 300, Chimaev wasted no time, calling out Nickal’s wrestling as “big bulls**t.” It was a bold statement, and Nickal didn’t back down. “The fact that he’s recognizing it and he sees what’s coming, too…” Nickal retorted, confident that his skill speaks for itself.

But in Sonnen’s eyes, neither man will get the upper hand in wrestling—not easily, anyway. He argued, “I don’t believe that there is a scenario where one of them controls the wrestling for all three rounds, where I can take him down at will.”

A fight where neither one can fully dominate the other on the ground which may lead to a stand-up battle with heavy artillery being thrown around? Now, that’s a prospect to generate a lot of hype. As the MMA world buzzes with the idea of a potential showdown between Bo Nickal and Khamzat Chimaev, the stage for a future clash seems unavoidable. Do you think Bo Nickal has what it takes to end Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant run in the UFC? Why or why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!