LAS VEGAS – Bo Nickal surprisingly didn’t earn a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series 49, but is confident he’ll reach his goal.
Nickal (2-0) was a massive favorite against Zachary Borrego and looked like it when he ran through his opponent in a little more than a minute in Tuesday’s headliner at the UFC Apex.
But despite living up to the hype, White decided to not award Nickal a contract. Instead, he invited him for another opportunity at the Contender Series.
“It’s all good,” Nickal told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the post-fight news conference. “I’m just excited. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to compete, so getting out there unscathed, another ‘dub,’ and I’ll get to fight soon – so all good. And I’ve said this a few times already, but the goal is not to be a UFC fighter.
“I’m here to be UFC champ (and) be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. So I’m 2-0. I’ve had a total of a minute-and-a-half of professional MMA competition, so let’s get another one in there. I don’t really care if it’s on Contender Series, in the UFC, whatever. I just want to fight.”
Nickal’s quick finish appeared to be lock for a UFC contract, but the standout wrestler was hoping to show off more of his game.
“I didn’t think that at all,” Nickal said on being guaranteed a contract. “It was a little bit of a letdown just because I get in there, I trained hard for this fight, this camp, made sure I take care of every single detail. Shoutout to Sam Calavitta with Treigning Lab, who put together my entire camp, were very meticulous about this. So to go out there and get a finish in 60 seconds, it’s a little bittersweet (to not get a contract).
“Because I didn’t really get to show a whole lot of technique, but at the same time, I didn’t take any damage and I’m ready to fight again right away. So it was a little bit of a weird feeling. I didn’t necessarily expect a contract just because it was kind of like, ‘Oh, all right.’ It was just too easy almost.”
Bo Nickal not discouraged about UFC contract snub: ‘I’m here to be No. 1 pound-for-pound’
