Bo Nickal burst onto the UFC scene through Dana White’s Contender Series, scoring an impressive submission win and catching the CEO’s attention. “The kid, I don’t even know what to say, he’s amazing,” that’s what the head honcho had to say after witnessing Nickal fight for the first time. After recording another DWCS win, he joined the UFC and got placed in the main card of every UFC fight he’s competed in. This included marquee PPV spots on events like UFC 285, UFC 290, UFC 300, and UFC 309. And remember! These were the Penn State Alum’s first four outings in the promotion.

It is safe to say that Nickal was seemingly given an ultra push from White, but that might have turned out to be the wrong decision. Nickal’s head coach at American Top Team, Mike Brown, recently shared a message on social media, asking the up-and-coming middleweight fighter to keep his chin up and head high despite his loss at UFC Des Moines because of his impressive run until now. Winning and losing are just a part of his life. Nickal may have been under the public eye more than some of the more seasoned fighters on the roster since he joined the UFC, but he still managed to stay unnerved and amass a pretty decent record.

“[It] was a tough weekend, but maybe one that was needed. Things have been moving fast for Bo Nickal, and to this point, he was been able to make things happen and secure 6 finishes and 7 victories with the limited experience that he has,” Nickal’s coach wrote. He then insinuated that the pace that Dana White and the UFC have set when it comes to the 29-year-old’s run in the promotion might have been a little too fast. With just eight fights to his name, Nickal was bound to fail against an experienced fighter like Reinier De Ridder.

Remember Darren Till? Yes, the former welterweight/middleweight fighter who has one of the best walkouts ever in the UFC had a similar push to Nickal. He was also on fire in the UFC with an unbeaten run until he faced the then-welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and then suffered a second defeat in a row against Jorge Masvidal, prompting White to admit that the UFC “might have pushed him a little too soon.” That’s the sentiment Nickal’s coach echoed in his Instagram post.

“MMA fight experience is crucial, and actual time in the cage is extremely important. As a team, we had our concerns about moving so fast, and we realize the dangers of fighting such high-level opponents so early, but Bo is a unique athlete and the UFC has him on a fast track,” Bo Nickal’s coach added.

Well, Mike Brown has no doubts that Nickal will bounce, claiming that the former 3-time NCAA Division I champion has all the tools to succeed at the highest level. “I’m confident that this is going to fuel Bo, and it will help him direct his focus to another level,” he added.

Last, but not least, Nickal’s coach also made sure to tell his critics to give him a break because the 29-year-old is only trying to achieve his dream and provide for his family. Well, that’s Nickal’s coach talking. But he has offered his statement on the loss as well. And it was a pretty humble one. Here’s what he had to say.

Bo Nickal promises a strong return after Des Moines loss

Bo Nickal’s maiden professional loss was one of the most talked-about moments last weekend at UFC Des Moines. He was placed in the co-main event spot, so he had to deliver that night, but failed miserably. As he opened up on how the fight played out, Nickal preferred to keep it plain, simple, and short. The 29-year-old didn’t share any extra analysis of what he did that cost him the fight against Reinier De Ridder, but just had a few words.

“Grateful for the highs and lows. I’ll be back,” wrote Bo Nickal on Instagram, showcasing that he’s approaching his loss weekend in a pretty mature way. Well, there’s nothing to be sad about for the middleweight prospect because he received support from Sean O’Malley‘s coach as well. “If you guys think in your mind that Bo Nickal gave up, I want you to go to your front yard or backyard, hit 10 or 30-yard sprints,” Tim Welch stated.

O’Malley’s coach further stated, “Really dig in, get your heart rate up, get your breathing hard. Then grab your dad, your neighbour, your cousin, your uncle, or anyone, and have them hit below your right nipple.” Well, Bo Nickal might be appreciative of the support and would be hoping to get back in the winning column in his next fight.

Nevertheless, what do you think about Bo Nickal’s coach’s claim about being fast-tracked by Dana White? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.