Bo Nickal entered UFC Des Moines with the aura of an undefeated prospect and the notion that he was destined for greatness. But when the fight started, Reinier de Ridder rose to the situation and walked away with all the momentum. Something seemed off about Nickal from the start. He started out aggressively but faded rapidly, and by the end of the first round, questions were already flying about. Oscar Willis was among the first to see it: “Bo looked slumped and fatigued in the corner after round one, and then RDR came out and finished the job. Wonder if there’s an injury to the body there, but solid work by RDR to finish the job.” That wasn’t just a passing comment; it encapsulated the uneasy feeling that many fans were already experiencing. Nickal was not himself.

“I just wanted to check if I was still Dutch, so I tried those knees and they’re still working,” de Ridder told Michael Bisping in the Octagon interview. The Dutchman had given Anatoly Malykhin a run for his money back at ONE Championship’s ONE 166 event. Malykhin, a three-weight champion in the promotion, had given props to de Ridder’s punishing Thai boxing after their bout. It was on full display again tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. And when de Ridder folded Nickal with a knee in the second round, things fell apart quickly.

From there, the internet pounced. Dillon Danis summed up the mood with his usual venom: “Fraud Checked: Bo Nickal.” One knee to the body, and the illusion shattered. Corey Anderson didn’t hold back either, “Bo may not be afraid to wrestle, but he’s 100% scared to grapple here,” casting doubts about Nickal’s apparent dominance in this area.

There was no pity in the reactions, only stark truths. For a fighter regarded as the next great thing, Nickal seems bewildered, outclassed, and possibly even exposed. While fans disputed whether injuries played a role, the general consensus was that Reinier de Ridder deserved every second of that finish—and Bo had no answer when it counted.

But it wasn’t just about giving Bo his first loss. De Ridder ensured that his moment did not end at the finish line. As Nickal sat dazed and defeated, RDR gazed straight ahead at Sean Strickland. Calling him out wasn’t simply brave; it was a power play. Here’s a guy who most UFC fans only knew from his time in ONE Championship, and now he’s putting his name in the middleweight spotlight with one knockout and one callout.

Aaron Bronsteter stated it clearly: “Reinier de Ridder hands Bo Nickal his first professional loss in spectacular fashion!” However, that amazing climax was only part one. Part two? Challenging Sean Strickland, one of the UFC’s most unpredictable and dangerous fighters. De Ridder’s message was clear: he’s not here for warm-up fights. He seeks chaos, legacy, and risk. Meanwhile, reactions continued to come in.

Alex Behunin couldn’t contain his shock: “HOLY S— RDR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Damon Martin expressed his disbelief: “REINIER DE RIDDER!!! He just knocked out Bo Nickal!” ‘MMA Gone Wild’ shouted in all caps, “RDR KNOCKS OUT BO NICKAL WITH A KNEE IN ROUND 2!!” That final knee was more than just a clean strike; it represented a shift in momentum. It reduced a decorated wrestler to a question mark while elevating Reinier de Ridder to the status of a UFC contender. The hype around Nickal may not be dead, but it’s bruised and bloodied. And right now, all eyes are on RDR—not only for what he did but also for what he has planned next. Will we finally get to see him go one-on-one against ‘Tarzan’?

Will Sean Strickland be Reinier De Ridder’s next challenge?

Reinier de Ridder’s performance in UFC Des Moines not only drew attention but also created opportunities. After knocking out Bo Nickal and calling out Sean Strickland in the same breath, De Ridder did not wait for the dust to settle. The victory gave him clout, and the callout provided fans a storyline. It’s the ideal scenario: ‘Tarzan’ is licking his wounds after a recent loss, while De Ridder is on fire. With no scheduled bout on Strickland’s schedule and De Ridder tearing through the division like a wrecking ball, the timing appears ideal. It’s no longer merely a call to action; it’s a move with actual potential.

When broken down, the matchup makes sense. The Dutchman’s experience as a two-division ONE champion isn’t just hype; it’s reality. He’s already defeated Kevin Holland and Gerald Meerschaert with clinical submission techniques, and now he’s demonstrating knockout power. He’s no longer merely a grappler; he’s a problem. Sean Strickland, on the other hand, uses unrelenting pressure, crisp boxing, and the kind of combat IQ that causes opponents to panic. That is precisely why this battle is so intriguing. It’s not a random matchmaking fantasy; it’s a serious style test. Can Reinier De Ridder drag ‘Tarzan’ into deep water on the mat? Or will Strickland keep the fight standing and do what he does best: walk his opponent down and trash-talk while doing so?

De Ridder is 34 years old. He has two to three prime years left at best to take on the likes of Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev, Caio Borralho, Nassourdine Imavov, etc. So he is making the right call, going for a top 5 fighter in Strickland. But here’s the catch. Israel Adesanya is angling for a rematch to settle scores with the American. That could work in de Ridder’s favor if the UFC matches him up with an Imavov or a Borralho, both of whose standings in the title picture are far better than Adesanya and Strickland.

De Ridder is at a pivotal point in his career. A victory over Strickland would propel De Ridder from rising threat to full-fledged contender in the UFC’s middleweight jungle. For Sean Strickland, it’s a chance at redemption—a chance to choke off De Ridder’s momentum and remind everyone why he was so feared in the title picture. And the best part? There are no roadblocks. Strickland has not committed elsewhere, and De Ridder has made his intentions very clear. The path is wide open. The only question now is whether Strickland will bite. What do you think? Do you want to see the two fight? Let us know in the comments.