Bo
Nickal favors Khamzat
Chimaev in a potential clash against Dricus Du
Plessis.

Chimaev is likely to be the next title challenger at middleweight
against Du Plessis. Nickal believes they are both even on the feet,
while the champ might even have better cardio. However, Nickal
believes it is Chimaev’s wrestling prowess that will give him an
edge of “Stillknocks.”

Nickal claims that nothing can prepare Du Plessis for the skillset
that “Borz” brings to the table. The former three-time NCAA
Division I champ believes on he is on the same level as Chimaev
when it comes to grappling.

“I think that Dricus has the size, he probably has a little better
cardio. I think striking is pretty even. I would say Khamzat
obviously has a massive advantage in the grappling,” Nickal
recently told Home of Fight. “All that considered, I think I would
give the edge to Khamzat because of that wrestling advantage. You
just don’t get strong grapplers like that competing. You’re not
used to that. No matter what Dricus is gonna do, he’s not gonna be
able to game plan for that. And’s he’s not gonna be able to have
felt that from anyone. Really the only two guys I believe in the
sport that can give that feel are me and Khamzat… The longer the
fight goes, the bigger the advantage is for Dricus…All in all it
would be a great fight. But I would give the edge to Khamzat.”

Du Plessis has defended his title twice since winning it against
Sean
Strickland last year. Meanwhile, Chimaev comes off a dominant
first-round submission win over Robert
Whittaker, which was his fifth finish in eight
UFC wins.

Nickal is set to face former ONE
Championship two-division title holder Reinier
de Ridder at
UFC Des Moines on May 3. Nickal comes off a unanimous decision
win over Paul Craig,
which was the first time he went the distance in his undefeated
career. Meanwhile, De Ridder has finished both Gerald
Meerschaert and Kevin
Holland in the UFC so far.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

Internationaler Kampfkunst und Kampfsport Kleinanzeiger