“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one,” said mixed martial artist turned actor Bruce Lee—a philosophy rooted in grit and resilience. Lee believed in living like a fighter, embracing the hard road over the easy one, trusting that God favors the bold. It’s that same mindset UFC middleweight contender Bo Nickal now carries. Bo Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion, saw his undefeated UFC streak end on May 3, 2025, when he faced seasoned veteran Reinier de Ridder in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo.

Known for his elite wrestling background, Nickal found it challenging to assert his dominance against de Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder. The fight may have been brief, but it was brutal. Reinier De Ridder’s relentless pressure and sharp knee strikes overwhelmed the American, handing him the first loss of his MMA career and ending his seven-fight win streak just 1 minute and 53 seconds in the second round.

Still, Bo Nickal refused to hang his head. He praised ‘RDR’s experience and well-rounded skill set, and made it clear he would be back—better and stronger. That same message was echoed during a recent episode of the Nickal and Dime Podcast, where he opened up about the loss and his journey moving forward. Ex- NCAA star said on Nickal and Dime Podcast,

“I never wanted to be an undefeated UFC champion. I never said that. I’ve probably challenged myself more than I should. There is an easier way to go about this than what I’m doing, but I don’t feel like that’s the way God is leading me—so I’m just leaning into that. The goal isn’t any different. I just want to continue to get better and improve, and I want to find out how good I can be. I’m 100% happy, grateful, and excited about this new path that’s maybe a little different than what I expected.”

After making waves in his collegiate wrestling career, he jumped straight into the UFC in 2022. Since his debut, Bo Nickal has secured 6 submission wins in his 7-fight streak, quickly becoming a fan favorite. But earlier this month, the ex-NCAA star faced the biggest challenge of his career. Standing across from him was 34-year-old Reinier de Ridder, who had joined the UFC just six months prior. ‘RDR’ had already racked up two dominant wins, and at UFC Des Moines, he continued that momentum.

Now, Reinier De Ridder is charging forward. Looking ahead, de Ridder is scheduled to face former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on July 26, 2025, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlining UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder. Yet even as he looks ahead, De Ridder sees a storm brewing behind him. The Dutch powerhouse believes Bo Nickal isn’t done—not even close. In fact, he predicted that Nickal will return more dangerous than ever, with an even more “killing” mindset.

Let’s see what the Dutch powerhouse had to say about the rising American’s comeback.

Reinier De Ridder defends Bo Nickal after breaking his seven-fight win streak

Bo Nickal now finds himself at a crossroads—a place Reinier de Ridder knows all too well. The Dutchman, who boasts a 20-2 record, endured his own career-defining setbacks when he suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Russian powerhouse Anatoly Malykhin. First, in 2022, Malykhin stripped ‘The Dutch Knight’ of his ONE middleweight title. Then, the following year, he snatched the ONE Light Heavyweight belt as well. Those crushing losses eventually pushed de Ridder to part ways with Asia’s ONE Championship and pursue new horizons, leading him to the UFC.

Since joining the promotion, the Dutch powerhouse has been making serious waves, and now, he sees a reflection of his younger self in the American prospect Bo Nickal. Speaking to MMA Fighting on Monday, the 34-year-old shared his perspective on the fine line between confidence and arrogance.

“The difference between being very confident and arrogant is very small,” Reinier de Ridder admitted.“I’ve been a victim of this in the past, maybe a little bit as well.” Still, de Ridder hasn’t lost faith in Nickal’s future. Despite the recent stumble, he believes the 29-year-old has all the tools to come back better and stronger. “He’s a powerful guy. He’s a very strong individual, and I think he’s going to take some time off from planning a fight, and we’ll see him back in six months, and he’s going to tear through a lot of guys.” de Ridder added.

So, what do you think about Bo Nickal’s future? Does he have what it takes to rise to championship level like some of his fellow NCAA greats? Share your thoughts below.