Overview

• Reinier de Ridder, ranked #13 in the UFC middleweight division, defeated Bo Nickal via a second-round knee knockout at UFC Des Moines on May 3, 2025.
• The loss marks the first professional MMA defeat for Nickal, who entered the fight with a 7-0 record and significant hype as an undefeated prospect.
• Speculation has emerged regarding the potential injuries Nickal may have sustained during the knockout, though no official updates have been provided yet.
• De Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder, used his grappling expertise and striking precision to hand Nickal the pivotal loss.
• Following the victory, de Ridder publicly called out Sean Strickland, signaling his ambitions to climb further in the UFC middleweight rankings.