Wrestlers stick together.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) super prospect Bo Nickal suffered his first professional loss when Reinier de Ridder delivered a devastating knee to the liver in the co-main event of UFC Des Moines last night (Sat., May 3, 2025) from inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa (watch highlights).
While some fans mocked Nickal’s “humbling” setback, former UFC two-division champion and fellow elite wrestler Henry Cejudo offered words of encouragement to the three-time NCAA Division I national champion from Penn State University via social media.
“The wrestling world has taken a hit today,” Cejudo wrote. “Keep your head up @NoBickal, this is not the end. I got finished by Demetrious Johnson with a similar body shot, and I went on to avenge that loss and become champion. You are capable of doing the same. Get back on your horse, brother.”
Indeed, Cejudo’s own journey mirrors Nickal’s setback. At UFC 197, “Mighty Mouse” destroyed him with knees in his first title shot (watch it); however, Cejudo rebounded to become the fourth simultaneous two-divisional champion.
The difference is that Cejudo had 11 fights under his belt when he faced his first loss, bringing more experience than Nickal, who is still raw and early in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
As “Triple C” emphasized, Nickal’s journey is far from over. He is a phenomenal athlete with untapped potential in mixed martial arts and has the tools to rebound stronger.
To accelerate his growth, Nickal should aim to compete more frequently than his current pace of two fights per year, gaining the experience needed to sharpen his skills.
Maybe he should fight ‘cans’ again?
For complete UFC Des Moines results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
