Latest
This is why Bo Nickal’s debut win might be overruled
Undefeated newcomer Bo Nickal at UFC 285. Photo via UFC (Twitter)
At UFC 285 this past Saturday, Bo Nickal won his highly anticipated promotional debut against Jamie Picket.
However, the win will now be appealed by Pickett’s team, with the intention to overturn the result to a no contest.
The team believed that a knee to the midsection by Nickal was in fact an illegal shot to the groin. Picket’s MMA manager LaMont Chappell said the following in a written statement to MMA Junkie.
“It’s very important that like all other major sports (including collegiate sports) replays are necessary to manage fair play. It seems these types of issues from judges and officials are becoming more and more common in MMA. At the end of the day they (officials) are human; however a fighter who trains his ass off should not be penalized for mistakes by individuals who are paid to make the best judgments for the integrity of the sport.”
Read more: The Ultimate Fighter 31 roster revealed: Includes eight (!) former UFC fighters
Bo Nickal: “I’m not a cheater”
At the UFC 285 post-fight press conference, the undefeated middleweight Bo Nickal commented on the situation.
“I hit him in the leg, in the thigh. I had him in a bad position along the wall. He wanted to get off the wall and he wanted the ref to stop it. If I were to have actually hit him low, I would feel bad because I don’t want to win that way,” Nickal said.
“I’m not a cheater. I’m not somebody who tries to take short cuts. If I did hit him low, I would’ve just relaxed probably or let the ref stop it. But I didn’t hit him low at all, so it’s a weird move, bro.”
Read more: UFC Fight Night with Anton Turkalj – Fight Card, Start time & How to Watch
