In a stunning upset at UFC on ESPN 67 in Des Moines, former ONE world champion Reinier De Ridder handed rising star Bo Nickal his first professional defeat with a second-round knockout, while showing remarkable sportsmanship afterward.
Despite entering as the underdog against the highly-touted American prospect, 'The Dutch Knight' controlled the octagon and delivered a decisive victory during the event, which featured Cory Sandhagen battling former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event.
Following the fight, De Ridder revealed the respectful words he shared with Nickal in the cage: "I said it to him after the fight: 'I'm happy I had to fight you now and not in three years,' because he's going to be a beast, man. He's going to be a monster."
The 34-year-old Dutchman's admiration for Nickal's potential didn't end there. Speaking with media on Monday, De Ridder expressed interest in future training collaborations with his defeated opponent: "I would really like to work with this guy. Because of the skill set he brings, it would be awesome to train together."
According to Statbet analysis, fighters coming off their first professional loss often show significant performance improvements in subsequent bouts, particularly wrestlers with Nickal's pedigree.
Despite the setback, Nickal maintained a positive outlook, writing on Instagram: "Grateful for the highs and lows. I'll be back." The three-time National Champion wrestler now returns to the drawing board while De Ridder advances his campaign toward the top of the UFC middleweight division.
De Ridder's post-fight assessment of Nickal's future was particularly noteworthy: "In three years, he's going to be a f****** killer. He's going to run through everybody." This prediction demonstrates the high regard even opponents hold for Nickal's potential, despite this early career stumble.
