Bo Nickal was surprised when the UFC offered him a fight against Joe Pyfer, but the rising middleweight contender wasted little time accepting the challenge.
Nickal, ranked No. 12 in the UFC middleweight division, is preparing for the biggest fight of his UFC career against the No. 5-ranked Pyfer. The matchup represents a significant opportunity for the former collegiate wrestling star to make a statement against one of the division’s highest-ranked fighters.
Pyfer appeared poised to enter the middleweight title conversation after scoring a knockout victory over Israel Adesanya in March. However, his subsequent booking against Nickal offered a different challenge, pitting him against a lower-ranked opponent with an elite wrestling background.
The fight was initially scheduled for UFC 335 in December but has reportedly been pushed back, with a UFC Fight Night event in February being proposed as the new date.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Nickal admitted he did not expect the UFC to offer him the matchup but made it clear he was more than willing to accept.
“A little bit, but I mean, they said, ‘What do you think about this fight?’ And I was like, ‘I love it. Let's run it.’ So I'm ready to go,” Nickal said.
“He’s a tough guy for sure. He's got some big power in his hands, likes to go for body locks, likes to wrestle a little bit. But I feel ready to go, so I feel prepared for the fight and I'm just going to keep getting better.”
Nickal also emphasized his belief that he continues to improve between fights, suggesting that his development will be a key factor as he prepares to face Pyfer.
“It's the reality of every fight that I've ever fought, I've continued to improve and get better from them and jump leaps and bounds in between fights so it's going to be nothing new for this next one,” he explained.
“I'm just going to continue to improve and get better and do what I can to be the best version of myself.”
Although Pyfer's punching power and standing in the rankings make the matchup a major test, Nickal also offered a more unusual explanation for why he is looking forward to the contest.
When Helwani asked what specifically excited him about the fight, Nickal responded with tongue firmly in cheek.
“What would that be? Oh, man. I think that I've never lost to another fellow ginger.”
Helwani was quick to question the claim, asking, “Is that true? Even in the wrestling days?”
Nickal replied, “Not that I can think of.”
