Bo Nickal was not happy with the commentary team after his win over Paul Craig at UFC 309. The NCAA Division-1 wrestler especially took issue with Daniel Cormier’s comments about his performance, and how he would fare against top-tier opponents in the middleweight division. Nickal failed to finish ‘Bear Jew’ on November 16th, the first win by decision on his record. The crowd in attendance, too, felt underwhelmed by his performance, even chanting ‘overrated’, most likely directed at Nickal during the fight.

For his part, Bo Nickal was satisfied with his performance, albeit acknowledging that he’s still growing in the promotion. However, Cormier’s comments seemed to have irked the 7-0 DWCS alum. After watching Nickal’s performance at UFC 309, ‘DC’ declared that he would be no match for fellow middleweight wrestler extraordinaire Khamzat Chimaev. However, the former two-weight champion also took the time to explain his stance. Let’s see what the former fighter, commentator and podcaster had to say.

Daniel Cormier feels Bo Nickal shouldn’t hurry in picking his next opponent

Bo Nickal has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in the UFC, and for good reason. A three-time NCAA wrestling champion, Nickal entered the fighting world with a level of hype rarely seen, with just three years of MMA training. Many questioned if his grappling dominance could translate to the world of MMA, but with each fight, Nickal silenced the doubters and cemented himself as one of the most promising prospects in the sport. This is what Daniel Cormier feels might be the problem for the 28-year-old.

Comparing Nickal’s last three opponents, ‘DC’ pointed out that there has been a massive jump in the quality of the fighters. Nickal has always been vocal about facing Khamzat Chimaev in his career. According to Cormier, this can become a problem as there’s a massive gap between the two. Reacting to Nickal’s frustration with him on his YouTube channel, the former two-weight champ said, “He may have misunderstood what I am trying to say. What I was more trying to say in this fight is that let’s not rush him into fights with people that are much more experienced.”

As a champion and a commentator in the UFC, Cormier has seen many young and promising fighters fail to make it big in the promotion. Daniel Cormier doesn’t want Nickal to end up in the same way and further added, “It feels like one of those situations, where a young guy who has shown so much promise gets a little bit fast tracked. You know we have seen this time and time again, where an athlete comes onto the scene – they do so well initially that they get overwhelmed because you don’t know what to do with them.” 

Whether or not Bo Nickal can live up to the expectations or not – only time will tell. However, his last performance indeed drew criticism from many folks in the fight community. Not just Daniel Cormier, but Chael Sonnen wasn’t quite impressed with the way Nickal approached the fight. According to ‘The American Gangster’ he will now have to prove himself once again in the division.

Chael Sonnen shares his honest opinion about Bo Nickal’s performance at UFC 309

Nickal’s performances in the UFC have been nothing short of dominant. Each fight has showcased his ability to control opponents, using a blend of raw power and technical precision. He doesn’t just win—he dismantles his competition. Such dominance has drawn comparisons to other wrestling greats who transitioned to MMA, like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier. However, in his last fight, he did not even use his wrestling skills against Paul Craig.

Despite being a finisher, Nickal failed to cause much damage to his opponent, leading many to believe that he is overrated. While the 28-year-old later went on to clarify that he was happy with his performance, Chael Sonnen doesn’t feel the same. Sonnen feels the NCAA Division-1 wrestler has lost his status as the ‘boogeyman of the division’ – “I believe that Bo, because he underwhelmed [us with his performance], I believe that Bo has passed back that invincibility card.” As he continues to climb the ranks, the question isn’t whether Bo Nickal will reach the pinnacle of the sport, but how soon.

With his relentless work ethic and natural talent, he is poised to leave an indelible mark on the UFC’s middleweight division. So who should Bo Nickal face next in his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.