The Wells Fargo Arena is ready to host yet another stacked fight night card in the form of UFC Des Moines. Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo have been awarded the main event spotlight, which is definitely a high-profile bout and could set the course of their division. However, the middleweight co-main event between Reinier de Ridder and Bo Nickal will also garner significant attention, as the stakes are high and both have a lot to prove.

De Ridder vs. Nickal is an interesting fight for a bunch of compelling reasons. Both have a very similar set of skills, but a few differences in approach could easily change the whole scenario. The Dutchman is a rising contender, keeping his #13 middleweight ranking at stake, and the All-American prospect is one step away from entering the rankings. As they get ready to show their grappling prowess inside the Octagon, let’s find out who really has the upper hand in terms of statistics!

Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal head-to-head stats and record

The 34-year-old Dutchman, Reinier de Ridder, stands at 6’4″ (193 cm) tall, weighing in at 185lbs, with an astronomical reach of 78″ (198 cm). To give you an example of the former ONE FC champ’s physical stature, it’s only second to the ex-middleweight champ Israel Adesanya’s 80” inch reach. On the other hand, Bo Nickal is not as big as him, but he’s definitely far from small. The 29 year old American stands at 6’1″ (185 cm), weighing in 185lbs with a reach of 76″ (193 cm). Now, as we have physically compared them both, let’s break down their records. 

de Ridder is fairly new to the UFC, but he currently has 21 overall pro MMA  fights with 19 wins and 2 losses, which puts him in the seasoned veteran category. Out of his 19 wins, only 4 have come via knockout, 13 by submission, which is astonishing, and only 2 by decision. The Dutchman likes to strangle his opponents! But Bo Nickal is still undefeated. He’s only 7 MMA fights in, and has gathered 2 wins via knockout, 4 by submission, and only 1 by decision. 

Looking at the striking department, the former two-division champ lands 3.28 strikes per minute and also gets hit with 2.69 per minute, with an accuracy of 57%, and a defense of 38%. The Dutchman definitely likes to play a little safe on the feet! However, Nickal is also not very keen on keeping the fight standing. At least his stats point to that assessment. The all-American lands 2.65 strikes per-minute, lower than his opponent, absorbs 1.86 strikes per-minute, which is positively lower, with an accuracy of 63%, and a defense of 64%. Both are much healthier than his opponent. 

The grappling department is more interesting than striking, because these two fighters are coveted ground game maestros. ‘RDR’ averages 6.89 on takedowns per 15 minutes, with a 46% accuracy rate, a staggering 85% takedown defense, and a submission average of 2. The NCAA wrestler lands 3.6 takedowns per 15 minutes, with a 50% accuracy, with a very low 15% takedown defense, which is understandable considering he only has 7 fights in his MMA career so far. Nickal also possesses a good 3.6 submission rate. 

Both fighters definitely bring some really impressive numbers to the table. And yeah, stats do play a big role when we’re trying to make a prediction, but to be very honest, once that Octagon door shuts, all those numbers can go straight out the window. Fights have a way of flipping the script in an instant. So, let’s dive into the real question you’re here for: Who’s gonna win this fight?

UFC Des Moines, Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal prediction

Reinier de Ridder, after achieving two gold belts in ONE FC, has already started making noise in the UFC. He only has two fights so far, but they were against Kevin Holland and Gerald Meerschaert, two very good fighters. Bo Nickal’s initial opponents were just cake walks for him, but his last two fights against Cody Brundage and Paul Craig came under some scrutiny, but weren’t enough to derail the hype. Both will be looking forward to outshining their past performances at UFC Des Moines. 

In the introduction, it was mentioned that both have similar and different fighting styles. It was referred to as them being southpaw and their impeccable ground game. As we all know, Bo Nickal is a former NCAA wrestler. But ‘RDR’ also has a background in judo and jiu-jitsu, notably winning the silver medal at the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2016. Their distinct qualities make this fight even more interesting. 

The Dutchman displayed his elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in both of his fights, getting back-to-back submission victories. de Ridder is definitely capable of shooting takedowns, but he likes to use his Judo sweeps and cheeky ways to get submissions. So, he needs to keep that same approach in this fight against Nickal. Keeping the fight on the ground, even if his opponent is on top, will bring him many opportunities to get a triangle choke going. ‘RDR’ should also stay away from any forceful exchanges. Gerald Meerschaert found some really good openings on him, and Bo Nickal can also catch him at any moment.

The Penn State Alum needs to do exactly the opposite. He should keep this fight on his feet and avoid forcing takedowns as much as he can. Why? Because ‘RDR’ can find many openings using his BJJ skills on the mat. But the All-American, despite being a great wrestler, should look forward to defending the takedowns and landing combinations, especially a left body shot, which usually works great against his opponent.

In terms of the prediction, Bo Nickal should take the fight home via a 2nd or 3rd Round knockout. Because he’s more dynamic, younger, and that might also provide him with the stamina advantage over Reinier de Ridder. So, as we wrap up the prediction, who do you think gets the win at UFC Des Moines? Comment below.