Watch highlights of Nickal’s UFC 300 submission over Brundage RIGHT HERE.
UFC middleweight phenom Bo Nickal kept his undefeated record intact by strangling Cody Brundage to kick off the UFC 300 pay-per-view (PPV) main card last night (Sat., April 13, 2024) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, improving to 6-0 with six finishes.
How dominant has Nickal been thus far in UFC?
The fact he didn’t close the show in the opening frame agains a battle-tested veteran like Brundage has some fickle fight fans convinced the former NCAA Division-1 National Champion out of Penn State was “struggling” during their UFC 300 contest.
The official stoppage came by way of submission at 3:38 of round two.
I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that Nickal, 28, has no business toiling away in the bottom half of the middleweight division. Brundage was not a pushover by any stretch of the imagination, but he was also unranked at 185 pounds.
Fellow undefeated middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev, was not impressed.
Time for UFC to stop padding Nickal’s record, even though UFC CEO Dana White insists the promotion would never employ that strategy. Regardless, Nickal earned a shot at a Top 10 opponent, which in turn will start building his case for his run at the title.
Perhaps the winner of Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez, who collide at UFC 302?
Maybe that’s what Nickal and White discussed.
Bo Nickal chatted with Dana White after his #UFC300 win pic.twitter.com/vFAcaJxhY0
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 14, 2024
“I’m a little bit embarrassed by that performance because I expected to go out there and completely dominate and shut this guy out,” Nickal told Joe Rogan after the fight. “I’m just grateful for all the people that support me. I wanna fight a better guy, that’s the thing for me. If you’re lucky enough to get the call to fight me, just be grateful and sign that contract.”
Expect to see Nickal return at some point in the fall.
For complete UFC 300 results and LIVE play-by play click HERE.