Bo Nickal next fight: Here's what the American UFC star said about his octagon return

Bo Nickal is one of the most interesting prospects in MMA history and it is easy to forget he has only been fighting professionally for 17 months. Just two fights into his UFC career, Nickal is already one of the biggest stars in the promotion.

Unsurprisingly, fans have been offering suggestions and predictions on who Nickal's next opponent will be. However, fans eager to watch Nickal's next performance may not have been enthused with his most recent comments.

In an interview on The MMA Hour, Nickal said that he might not fight until 2024. He cited a desire to pursue more time for his other interests and hobbies along with the birth of his first son. In the interview, Nickal said:

"I could fight next weekend if I wanted, but for me, everything I'm training for and preparing for is my 10th title defense down the road. I'm not preparing for my next fight."

The fighter's confident comments along with the UFC's plan for Bo Nickal has fans unsure of who his opponent may be. Nickal has faced no resistance so far in his MMA career with all five of his professional fights lasting a combined 6:02.

Bo Nickal's dominant early success and fighting style has received many comparisons to the early UFC career of Khamzat Chimaev. On his YouTube channel, Nickal publicly stated that he was hoping the UFC would call him to replace Paulo Costa and fight Chimaev on short notice at UFC 294. Both Nickal and Chimaev claim they would easily defeat the other.

Bo Nickal has also received comparisions to Alex Pereira, who challenged for the middleweight belt in just his fourth UFC fight. Whether the same path will be paved for Nickal is unknown.

It is almost impossible to predict Nickal's next opponent at this point but Chimaev seems unlikely. Regardless, it is clear Nickal deserves a step up in competition but we may have to wait a little longer to see his return.