Grow Up Or Get Smashed
10/29/2024 11:34 AM
Khamzat Chimaev is on the fast track to the middleweight title.
As for Bo Nickal ... he's still being handled with care, despite a 6-0 record with all six wins ending by way of knockout or submission — five within the first frame. The former NCAA Division-1 National Champion out of Penn State returns to action against Paul Craig at UFC 309 next month in New York City.
But he's still a long way from fighting the mighty Chimaev.
"Why is it they didn't pick him? I don't know, because they think the guy is too early for him, too young," Chimaev told Nina-Marie Daniels. "I don't know how old he is, but in MMA, it means like your age is not like ... prepared to fight. This guy is too young for the sport, he has to grow up. If we fight now, I'm gonna smash that guy easy, first round. Maybe later, when I'm older, he'll give me tougher fight, but for sure I'm gonna win that time as well."
Nickal agrees they're not on the same level — but for different reasons.
Nickal is two years younger than Chimaev at 28 and has yet to crack the Top 15 at 185 pounds. That's unlikely to change regardless of how well he performs at UFC 309 since Craig is unranked — but a decisive victory could finally score Nickal the big name he's been searching for in early 2025.
Until then, there's no reason to rush things.
