A recent MMA fight saw a wrestler crush his BJJ opponent, proving again how wrestling dominates the sport. Bo Nickal didn’t mince words after watching a fellow wrestler dominate an MMA fighter in a recent bout. As the dust settled, Nickal delivered a harsh reality check to those who doubted the wrestling world’s growing influence in MMA. He praised fellow wrestler Pat Downey, saying, “It’s one of those nights where Downey’s win shows how MMA should be organized.” 

Nickal believes wrestling control is the most dominant skill in the cage, and few do it better than Downey. He didn’t hold back, calling it disgraceful to see Downey’s opponent trying to pressure him from behind for 15 minutes. His words reflect a push for deeper respect in the sport.

Bo Nickal weighed in on Pat Downey vs. Luke Rockhold, offering a sharp critique

American MMA fighter Bo Nickal recently posted on X, expressing his frustration with the CJI judging. He captioned, “CJI judging is a joke. Pat Downey just proved bjj isn’t real and his opponent flopped on his back for 15 min. What a disgrace.” Nickal’s comment came after former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold had a short night, competing for the first time in the Craig Jones Invitational over 80kg event, which started Friday in Las Vegas. Rockhold came up against decorated wrestler Pat Downey in his opening match. Downey, a former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, has twice fought in Bellator with a score of 1-1; in 2020, he defeated Gordon Ryan on points. The match started, and immediately, Rockhold again pulled guard.

Later, Downey followed Rockhold to the ground and applied steady, suffocating pressure from a hanging top position. It left the MMA veteran no room for guillotine choke attacks. The choking continued into the second round, with Downey maintaining his position on top but failing to find any submissions whatsoever. Then, the third round began, and Rockhold needed a finish to get to the quarterfinals. He seemed too exhausted to even come close to being able to oblige. Downey took full advantage of his rival’s poor fitness level. He took him down twice and simply let him back up. Downey smashed Rockhold against the pit wall, but Rockhold still found his wits to high-five Demetrious Johnson, sitting in the front row, which ticked Downey off.

Reflecting on that note, a Brazilian MMA fighter, even Jose Aldo, tweeted, “Luke Rockhold gets trapped in the corner, daps up Mighty Mouse, get hits with a rear naked and rolls out. Corner meta supreme”. However, at last, when they are both back on their feet in the clinch, Downey shows that he wants to knee Rockhold from the clinch. Then, Rockhold laughed and slapped his face. Referee Jason Herzog warned both men against continuing, and the clock ran out just seconds later. Downey won conclusively by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-26). Then, he tailed his opponent for his mid-fight exchange with former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson.

As Bo Nickal is known for his respected position in the wrestling arena, he raised his voice about Downey’s victory. Bo Nickal’s assessment of the match was blunt as always. Known for dominating opponents on the mat and saying what’s on his mind, the wrestling standout took to social media to vent his displeasure. His words echoed what many others thought—that the MMA competitor was hopelessly outmatched by the opening bell. Skill and experience exist on a spectrum, and in this case, the divide was a gaping chasm, much to the sport’s detriment.

Wrestlers vs. BJJ: How Pat Downey’s performance stands out

The intense world of Combat Jiu-Jitsu Invitational (CJI) often leaves wrestlers at a crossroads. It pitted their wrestling skills against the polished techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners. Only Downey’s win sparked conversations among all the other wrestlers with a BJJ background. The first-round match was between Jason Nolf and Tye Ryotolo in the 80 kg division. Nolf gets a tough opening draw in the under-80 kg division against tournament favorite Tye Ruotolo. Nolf, who made an eye-catching professional debut with an impressive win in June, is now taking on the top pros. 

Downey faces former UFC champion Luke Rockhold. Being a seasoned wrestler and sharp performer, Downey defeated this excellent grappler, who had not been in action for a while. “I’m the, cut the fucking semantics. I’m the one winning,” said Downey after winning the match. Nevertheless, despite his wrestling skills, Downey ultimately struggled with Rockhold’s submission techniques and fell victim to a choke. 

This underscored how much the format favors Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. So, it is important to both execute and defend against submissions. But BJJ players such as Daniel Kerkvliet and Fellipe Andrew emerged from the crowd. Andrew won the 94 kg division for dynamic guard play. This contrasts sharply with the performances of Downey and others trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who were among these contestants.