Bo Nickal has always walked the line between calculated confidence and quiet chaos. But this week? He may have tipped the scale—literally. Just days before stepping into the Octagon at UFC Des Moines, the wrestling phenom dropped a weight update that sent shockwaves through fight fans. The number? A jaw-dropping 222.6 pounds.

Cue the panic. The former NCAA wrestling champion is set to fight at middleweight, that’s 185 pounds. Simple math says he’s over 35 pounds heavy, before the final weigh-ins. So, is Bo Nickal in trouble? Or is he simply toying with our expectations?

Bo Nickal continues his dance with the fans with yet another stunning weight update

In an Instagram video with Full Send MMA, Bo Nickal sat down in good spirits for the interview. But when asked about the weight? He didn’t dodge. He leaned into the madness. Nickal confessed, “Yeah, you know, this last camp I put a lot of effort into bulking up. I wanted to get a little bigger. Eating a bunch of steaks, potatoes, that type of thing.”

Many fighters have admitted that weight-cutting is the hardest part of a fight camp. As such, Nickal continued by sharing that he might have “gone too far” with his ambition to pack on a little more muscle on his frame. But then came the bombshell.

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The UFC middleweight confessed, “Like I said, I’m putting on that weight, putting that size on, maybe I’ll hit the Mr. Olympia competition after this. The bulk went a little far, I might keep going with it. ”

If you’re looking for a tell, Nickal might’ve let one slip when he mentioned ‘Mr.Olympia’. While wrestlers are renowned for their weight-cutting prowess, this cheeky remark may indicate that it’s all just mind games ahead of the clash against Reinier De Ridder at UFC on ESPN 67.

Nickal is currently undefeated in the UFC. So why risk it all with such a wild weight cut? Other than the mental warfare aspect, there’s also the fact that adding bulk would benefit his wrestling game inside the cage. That means walking around heavier and cutting down hard — a brutal but common strategy in combat sports. The danger? It can backfire when the body simply won’t cooperate.

For now, fans are stuck between hope and horror. Is this a calculated smokescreen to rattle his opponent, Reinier de Ridder? Or a red flag waving at the weigh-in horizon? Only time will tell.

But Bo Nickal’s weight isn’t the only thing under the microscope. As UFC Des Moines draws near, questions now swirl around something even more pressing — his mindset.

Paul Felder wants Nickal to “challenge” Reinier De Ridder

Bo Nickal may have made fans sweat with talk of a 220-pound fight week. But according to UFC commentator Paul Felder, the real concern isn’t the scale — it’s the spark. In his last fight against Paul Craig at UFC 309, all signs pointed to a fireworks show. Instead, fans got a slow burn. Nickal didn’t chase the finish. He played it safe. Too safe, if you ask Felder.

Speaking to ESPN, Felder stated, “Because in that Paul Craig fight, he went out there, there was a lot of eyeballs, a lot of hype on this kid, and he just never pulled the trigger. It happens. It’s how you bounce back from that type of performance.”

For someone pegged as a future champion, the bar is higher. Much higher, according to Felder. And here’s the twist: Reinier De Ridder is no slouch. The former double champ from ONE Championship has 13 career submissions and a ground game as slick as an oil spill. That’s exactly why Felder wants Nickal to lean into the danger, not away from it.

The UFC veteran further shared, “But if he could go out there against De Ridder and challenge him on the mat or be aggressive on the feet. He’s shown that he’s got the ability and explosiveness to knock guys out. We got to see one or the other from him.”

In conclusion, Bo Nickal stands at a crossroads. Will he cut the weight, flip the switch, and give fans the mauling they’ve been waiting for? Or will caution once again cloud the chaos? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!