Two undefeated middleweights colliding in the octagon—Bo Nickal vs. Sharaputdin Magomedov—sounds like the kind of matchup that would send fans into a frenzy. And it just might happen. While Nickal remains unranked, Magomedov currently holds the #14 spot in the 185 lbs rankings. Fueling the excitement, Nickal recently called out the Russian, signaling his readiness for a major test.

Nickal, riding a 7-fight winning streak, has shown no hesitation in seeking tougher challenges as he climbs the middleweight ladder. However, not everyone is convinced this fight should happen just yet. A former UFC champion recently shared his thoughts with Nickal directly, suggesting that the timing for such a matchup might not be ideal.

Bo Nickal gets a reality check from Kamaru Usman

In a recent conversation with Kamaru Usman on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Bo Nickal received a dose of veteran wisdom alongside high praise for his flawless 7-0 record. While ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ acknowledged the Penn State alum’s bright future, he offered a pragmatic perspective on the fighter’s ambitions.

“They see you as a future star, so they are gonna do the best that they can to help you get there,” Usman said. “But simultaneously, you have to go out there and put on these performances.” Usman then addressed Nickal’s callout of Sharaputdin Magomedov, cautioning that the timing for such a fight might not be ideal.

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The former 170lbs king elaborated, “The Shara fight—that’s not gonna happen because Shara is also a guy that they see high hopes for. It’s a bad-style matchup right now. Not saying that eventually Shara isn’t gonna get better in his ground game and be able to stop a guy like you, or that you can’t get better in your striking and be able to stand and knock him out. It can happen, but not right now.”

Magomedov, fresh off an impressive showing at UFC 308 against Armen Petrosyan, has demonstrated his potential as a dangerous contender. Meanwhile, Nickal dispatched Paul Craig with an uncharacteristic style. Following his victory, Nickal expressed confidence in a hypothetical fight with Magomedov, labeling it “an easy fight.” He also turned the spotlight on Dana White, suggesting that the UFC President might have some strategic matchmaking to consider as Nickal ascends the middleweight ladder.

Bo Nickal calls out Dana White for “protecting” Sharaptudin Magomedov

UFC matchmaking is an art, and Bo Nickal has added his own twist by throwing a curveball at the promotion. Speaking on the Nickals and Dimes podcast, the undefeated middleweight didn’t hold back when discussing a potential fight with Sharaputdin Magomedov.

“It’s like I would like to fight him [Shara], but it’s not a tough fight,” Nickal said. “And I’d have to go to Abu Dhabi, I’d have to go to Saudi. I’d do it, but I think that, not a tough fight…”

Nickal’s confidence in his abilities was on full display as he suggested that the UFC might be protecting the Russian rising star. He hinted that Dana White and the matchmakers are preserving ‘Shara Bullet’ and his unbeaten streak for strategic reasons. “They wouldn’t match it up,” Nickal said while underscoring the sentiment on the podcast.

Magomedov, who made his UFC debut in 2023, has already faced formidable competition, including Bruno Silva, Michel Pereira, and Michal Oleksiejczuk. However, none of those opponents possess Nickal’s elite grappling credentials as a 3-time NCAA wrestling champion, which makes the matchup particularly intriguing.

While Magomedov may not be on the horizon for Nickal just yet, the American grappler is determined to win over fans after some felt underwhelmed by his performance against Paul Craig. Despite securing a dominant victory, Nickal relied on striking rather than showcasing his trademark wrestling, leaving some fans disappointed. Now, he’s vowed to return to his roots in his next bout.

Who will Nickal face next? With his skillset and hunger to prove himself, the options are endless. Could it be a ranked opponent or another rising contender? Share your thoughts in the comments below!