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Bo Nickal is a star in the making. The undefeated UFC middleweight is a force to be reckoned with in the promotion's 185 lbs division. While he is yet to make his UFC debut, his dominant record in Dana White's Contender Series has caught the eye of many observers.
His decorated wrestling career has left many confident that he is arguably the best pure wrestler in the UFC at the moment. However, as has been repeated by countless analysts throughout MMA's history, MMA wrestling is a different beast altogether. While Bo Nickal is promising, he is yet to truly prove himself.
Khamzat Chimaev is a mixed martial artist of similar ilk. He too is an undefeated phenom with a feared wrestling background. However, the difference between them is that 'Borz' has defeated top-ranked foes. However, that hasn't stopped 'The Allen Assassin' from challenging the Chechen grappler to a fight.
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While a potential matchup between the two is likely a year or two away, it has enormous potential. This list details five reasons why a future fight between the two men is a future superfight.
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#5. It will be a clash of wrestling styles
Khamzat Chimaev and Bo Nickal are both dominant wrestlers. However, their styles differ considerably. 'Borz' possesses a style that is perfectly married to his striking and vicious ground game. The undefeated Chechen, for example, isn't as concerned about simply holding his foes down.
Once he drags an opponent down to the mat, he fishes for submissions. He uses a combination of wrist-ties and ground-and-pound to create openings for submissions. Classic wrestling getups are ill-advised against him. Using one's hands and feet to stand up leaves the back and neck exposed.
This enables Khamzat Chimaev to secure easy back-mounts and rear-naked chokes. Bo Nickal uses a more classic style of wrestling that's more common in the United States. He employs heavy hip pressure as opposed to wrist-ties and the like.
There will be enormous intrigue in seeing which wrestling style reigns supreme. This is especially interesting due to the fact that wrestlers rarely face one another in the UFC.
#4. They might both be champions in the future
By the time a potential matchup between the two could materialize, both Khamzat Chimaev and Bo Nickal might be champions. The undefeated Chechen is a gigantic welterweight with a perfect blend of overpowering grappling and knockout power.
Meanwhile, Nickal is set to break open the gates of the middleweight division. He is uniquely positioned to succeed due to his supreme wrestling skills. The UFC's 185 lbs weight class is devoid of any strong wrestlers besides Derek Brunson. While Marvin Vettori is a dedicated wrestler, his skill-level isn't up to par.
Thus, 'The Allen Assassin' will have the advantage of possessing a skill-set that is rarely prepared for in the middleweight division. With the exception of Robert Whittaker, who possesses excellent defensive wrestling skills, Bo Nickal will likely be able to outwrestle everyone en route to a title win.
By the time the UFC exhibits serious considerations about a matchup involving Khamzat Chimaev and Nickal, they're likely to be champions.
#3. They're both in their physical primes
Younger fighters improve at a faster rate than their older counterparts. Bo Nickal is only 26 years old and is also a newcomer to MMA. He possesses the strongest base for the sport due to his wrestling skills. Thus, he will be a sponge in the gym and absorb a deep pool of knowledge.
The improvements he's likely to make might lead to a run of considerable dominance. His foes will have more than his outstanding wrestling to worry about. If he can improve his striking to a serviceable level, future foes will truly struggle to contain him because his takedowns will create openings and vice versa.
Similarly, 'Borz' is 28 years old. He is improving at an alarming rate. Thus, by the time both fighters cross swords, they will be at the absolute peak of their athletic and technical powers. It is rare for fighters in their athletic and technical primes to face each other.
However, given the age of Khamzat Chimaev and Bo Nickal, it's likely that by the time they fight, they'll be in optimal condition in every sense.
#2. There is a classic Russia vs. America narrative for promotional purposes
Khamzat Chimaev is from Chechyna, a Russian republic. Meanwhile, Bo Nickal was born in the United States. Both countries are historic enemies, with their rivalry playing out on every possible avenue. Classic films like the ones from the Rocky series portray Russians in a villainous manner.
The case is similar when it comes to how Russians portray Americans in their local films. It is an age-old relationship of unending contention. Just as Ben Askren once swore to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov while chanting "USA" after mounting his back, the narrative can be repurposed for this bout.
While it might be criticized as tasteless, it isn't more-so than the UFC using footage of Conor McGregor's bus assault for promotional purposes. Bo Nickal can portray himself as a heroic American, while 'Borz' can present himself as a villainous Russian.
It lines up well with Chimaev's recent heel turn. His unapologetic attitude when it came to his weigh-in failure for UFC 279 as well as multiple altercations with other fighters plays into the role.
#1. It can lead to a future rivalry
If a superfight between the two comes to fruition, the loser of the bout will almost certainly feel embittered by the result. This will be especially true if both fighters are still undefeated by the time they cross swords. As is often the case, whenever two extremely successful fighters face each other, a rematch eventually arises.
Thus, whoever loses the matchup will certainly long for a rematch, especially if it is a title fight. Rivalries aren't rare in the UFC. However, truly compelling rivalries from a competitive standpoint are hard to come by. Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier were undoubtedly the very best 205'ers during their clashes.
They were closely matched despite 'DC' having lost both bouts. This cannot be said for many other rivalries like Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos or Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor. However, when it comes to 'Borz' and 'The Allen Assassin', it is difficult to see one being markedly superior.
A rivalry can lead to a series of successful bouts. If Bo Nickal loses, for example, the UFC could market a rematch as an American redemption story against a Russian rival.
