“Two Unranked guys… title shot…” Bo Nickal eyes Sean O’Malley-esque path to title shot

Rising UFC middleweight Bo Nickal lays out his Sean O'Malley-style gameplan to eventually fight for the 185lb division UFC title.

“Two Unranked guys… title shot…” Bo Nickal eyes Sean O’Malley-esque path to title shot

Bo Nickal following Sean O'Malley style strategy to fight for middleweight title (Image via Imago)

Rising UFC middleweight star Bo Nickal has outlined a strategic five-fight plan to capture the division’s title. The decorated college wrestler entered the sport with the dream of winning the UFC gold. The 28-year-old contender has a plan that resembles the path former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley took to title victory.

Bo Nickal recently sat down to have a conversation with UFC veteran Jorge Masvidal. The duo spoke about everything from Donald Trump to Masvidal’s impending return. The undefeated middleweight also reveals his plan to fight unranked opponents until he steps into the rankings. It begins with his upcoming fight against Paul Craig at UFC 309.

I wanna do two more guys that are unranked. And then fight a ranked guy… Probably fight a top 5 guy and then fight for the title at round 12-0. That’s what I’m planning right now.

Bo Nickal via his official YouTube channel
YouTube video

Nickal’s plan is a meaningful step intentionally planned to gradually face more and more difficult opponents. Nickal said that he surely wants to start fighting “better guys.” Out of the five fights he has had in the UFC, only one fight made it past the first round. This is similar to how Sean O’Malley progressed to title contention, knocking out unranked fighters. 

FS Video

Sean O’Malley strategically avoided top contenders early in his career, opting to hone his skills and gain experience through lower-ranked opponents. His journey ultimately culminated in a breakout win over Petr Yan, setting him up for a title shot. Nickal is set to take on Paul Craig this November at the Madison Square Garden in New York. 

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Darren Till ridicules Bo Nickal’s five-fight master plan

Darren Till recently took to social media to mock Bo Nickal’s master plan for climbing the UFC middleweight ranks. Till referred to Nickal as a “ginger ninja” and criticized his choice of opponents and striking abilities. He argued that Nickal, despite his perfect 6-0 MMA record, has not faced anyone with a solid UFC track record.

Darren Till on Bo Nickal
Darren Till on Bo Nickal (Image via Imago)

While acknowledging Nickal’s elite wrestling, Till ridiculed his striking as “appalling.” The British fighter even took a humorous jab at Nickal’s personal life, poking fun at his cooking videos. This exchange is somewhat surprising, given that Till no longer competes in MMA. He left the UFC in 2023 to focus on his boxing career. 

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Although Paul Craig represents a step up in competition for Nickal, he has struggled recently, with four losses in his last five fights. However, the former light-heavyweight is renowned for surprising victories, holding notable wins over Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill. As such, the decorated college wrestler must avoid an upset at all costs.