Bo Nickal is
asked what he was thinking when he heard the crowd chant „Overrated“.Later, Nickal talks UFC 309 broadcast team criticism: It was a
little disappointing to hear some of those comments from people I
respect a lot.#HelwaniShow
pic.twitter.com/HVQb90mXFe— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman)
November 18, 2024
Many fans and pundits were not impressed with Bo Nickal’s
performance.
On the main card of UFC
309, Nickal (7-0) picked up a unanimous decision win over
Paul
Craig (17-9-1) in striking contest where the vaunted wrestler
did not even attempt a single takedown. The lackluster
back-and-forth did not thrill the audience or commentary team,
drawing chants of “overrated” from those in attendance. The
multiple-time NCAA Division I champ suggested in his post-fight
interviews that he did not wish to put himself in danger of an
unlikely submission from “Bearjew,” and ran a risk-adverse strategy
he thought went well. Nickal, however, did not appreciate the
commentary on his fight.
Although there was no doubt as to his victory, during the match,
commentators pontificated whether he may be able to down a foe the
caliber of Khamzat
Chimaev. It marked the first time that the unbeaten
middleweight had gone the distance after seven outings. Still early
in a career that kicked off professionally in 2022, Nickal claims
he received nothing but good feedback from those he trusts and
relies on. Appearing on the Ariel
Helwani Show on Monday, Nickal pushed back on some of those
criticisms aired in his direction.
“When I watched the fight back, something that was a little
disappointing was the commentary, and just kinda hearing the way
they were looking at the fight,” the Penn State wrestler noted. “To
hear things like ‘DC’ [Daniel
Cormier] say, ‘Oh, he’s not ready for Khamzat’…I think he was
trying to be respectful, but also trying to like maybe set me down
a peg. It was just weird to hear. But I just feel like that people
that I know, that are in my corner, and would give me honest,
genuine feedback, they’re very happy with the victory. I was very
happy with the victory, so that’s what I really care about at the
end of the day. But it was a little disappointing to hear some of
those comments from people I respect a lot.”