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Exclusive: Aljamain Sterling claims Bo Nickal has the potential to be a future World Champion: “He has the whole world at his fingertips”

Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA) believes Bo Nickal (3-0 MMA) has all the skills and potential to become a UFC Champion. Sterling is preparing to make his second 135lb title defense, this time taking on the former bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA) later this month at UFC 280 in Abu Dubai. The ‘Funk Master’ is […]

Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA) believes Bo Nickal (3-0 MMA) has all the skills and potential to become a UFC Champion.

Sterling is preparing to make his second 135lb title defense, this time taking on the former bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA) later this month at UFC 280 in Abu Dubai.

The ‘Funk Master’ is coming off his first-ever UFC title defense in which he defeated arch-rival Petr Yan (16-3 MMA) at UFC 273, claiming a closely contested split decision victory.

With that win, Sterling was able to earn himself validity as the Champion following the pair’s first meeting early last year after a very controversial ending.

Aljamain Sterling believes Bo Nickal has what it takes to become a World Champion

Ensuing from Bo Nickal’s Dana Whites Contender Series performances, the undefeated prospect now finds himself in the UFC with only three professional fights on his record.

Despite not even fighting in the UFC yet, the 26-year-old has already been tipped to beat many of the top contenders in the 185lb division, with some claiming that he could be the one to dethrone the current champion Israel Adesanya.

Speaking with LowKickMMA’s James Lynch, Aljamain Sterling revealed that he believes Bo Nickal has all the tools to live up to the hype and become a world champion in Mixed Martial Arts.

“I think Bo is really good. I think he is talented. I think he has the world at his fingertips, he can do whatever he wants,” Sterling stated.

However, the ‘Funkmaster’ warned Nickal not to get ahead of himself, as he will undoubtedly face some sort of pushback at some point or another within the MMA career.

“Obviously, he hasn’t been tested in the stand-up department but that’s because he is passing all of his tests with flying colors but there will be some pushback at some point.“

“I think he’s going to understand that when he gets to the ballpark there is going to be some adversity he’s going to have to face and I he’ll be ready for it as long as he stays the course and keeps training the way he’s been training I can’t see why he can’t be a future World champ.“

Despite the lack of professional MMA experience, Bo Nickal is on a mission to change that narrative, as he has already got himself his first UFC fight booked against Jamie Pickett (13-8 MMA) at UFC 282 in December.

Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling, can Bo Nickal become a UFC Champion?

Watch: Daniel Cormier Guest Referees At WWE Extreme Rules

Daniel Cormier served as the special guest referee for the main event of WWE Extreme Rules, and MMA News has all the sights and sounds for you! Longtime WWE fan and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier was selected to serve as the special guest referee for…

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Exclusive | Randy Brown targets ‘fun fight’ with Michael Chiesa: “Classic grappler versus striker”

Randy Brown is coming off a unanimous decision win over Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Vegas 61. The 170-pounder spoke with Lowkick MMA’s Mike Owens about a potential Michael Chiesa fight, wanting one more fight in 2022 and his recent win against Trinaldo. ‘Rude Boy’ has been outspoken about who he would like to face inside […]

‘Rude Boy’ has been outspoken about who he would like to face inside the octagon next. He has called for a shot against Michael Chiesa. In 2019, Brown first explained his desire to test his skills against Chiesa. He shared the same sentiment after his win against Trinaldo.

“The story is I’ve called him out before, plenty of times. We’ve had convos in the past and I just think it makes for a great fight,” Brown said. “He’ll try to wrestle me, I’ll try to knock him out. Classic grappler versus striker. I think it makes for a fun fight.”

Randy Brown is convinced that there are pros and cons of being ranked in the welterweight division

Brown believes that ranked welterweights stall the division for certain opportunities. He says that he’d rather fight consistently by fighting someone outside the rankings. If he doesn’t stay active, it affects the income he needs to provide for his family.

“Guys guarding their rank, that’s all that is. Why would I want to be in the rankings if that’s the case…Those dudes don’t fight each other. They just sit around and wait for the right moment and I get it, to further this career, but… I can’t fight once every other year.”

Brown (16-4) won a tough three-round fight against veteran Francisco Trinaldo to extend his win streak to four. He says Trinaldo brings a level of ‘durability’ and ‘presence’ that makes him a hard opponent.

“It wasn’t my best performance but I’m happy I got the job done against a crafty, gritty veteran like Francisco Trinaldo,” Brown said. “A win over him is great but to look like a world beater against him is hard because he’s dangerous at all times. There’s no point where you feel safe. That’s why my output was very low in that fight.”

Im not satisfied with that at all. I'm going to fight again this year

— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) October 3, 2022

The 32-year-old isn’t ruling out a return to the octagon in 2022. He says it all comes down to if the UFC can find an opponent for him before the year is over.

“It’s possible, you never know. I’m fully healthy [and] I have no injuries at all…It’s definitely doable. It’s just a matter of if there is someone willing to step up and fight,” said Brown.

Overeem Scores Comeback Win Over Badr Hari, Twitter Reacts

Alistair Overeem had a successful return to the world of kickboxing when he took out Badr Hari in their trilogy bout. Long before Overeem was fighting for UFC gold, he was a decorated kickboxing champion, winning two K-1 World Grand Prix titles. One of…

Continue Reading Overeem Scores Comeback Win Over Badr Hari, Twitter Reacts at MMA News.

Rakhmonov vs. Neal Confirmed For January 14, Twitter Reacts

Shavkat Rakhmonov got his wish to fight Geoff Neal granted, and fans are beyond excited. Undefeated Rakhmonov has been shooting his shot for months, trying to get a fight with Neal with repeated callouts. Finally, he got a response from the number six …

Continue Reading Rakhmonov vs. Neal Confirmed For January 14, Twitter Reacts at MMA News.

Exclusive – Eric Nicksick previews Aljamain Sterling’s fight with ‘dynamic’ T.J. Dillashaw: ‘It’s a great matchup’

Xtreme Couture head coach, Eric Nicksick has shared his thoughts on this month’s undisputed UFC bantamweight title fight between his student, champion Aljamain Sterling, and former titleholder, challenger, T.J. Dillashaw – praising the dynamism of the latter and crediting him for revolutionizing standup fight at the bantamweight level. Nicksick, the head coach of several leading […]

Nicksick, the head coach of several leading UFC fighters including undisputed heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, and the aforenoted, Sterling – along with Ray Longo and Matt Serra, will prepare the latter for his trip to Abu Dhabi, UAE later this month to tackle Dillashaw at UFC 280.

Defending bantamweight champion, Sterling, most recently co-headlined UFC 273 earlier this year against former champion, Petr Yan in the pair’s rematch – edging out the Russian with a close, split decision win in Jacksonville, Florida.

As for Dillashaw, the former two-time division kingpin headlined in his promotional return in July of last year against common-foe, Cory Sandhagen, earning a title fight with a close split judging win of his own. The outing came as T.J. Dillashaw’s first since serving a two-year retroactive suspension issued by USADA after he tested positive for the banned substance, erythropoietin (EPO).

Commenting on the style of Dillashaw and the overall game of the Angels Camp veteran whilst breaking down Sterling’s incoming title defense, the above-mentioned, Nicksick highlighted the former’s dynamic style at bantamweight.

“It’s nice getting matched up against who I think is one of the best coaching minds in the game (Duane Ludwig),” Eric Nicksick told Mike Owens during an interview with LowKick MMA. “It’s also nice not having to stand across from him, you know what I mean.”

“All in all, I think T.J. (Dillashaw) brings a full MMA skillset from the feet to the floor, where he’s very dynamic in all areas,” Eric Nicksick explained. “I think it’s a great matchup to be quite honest with you.”

Eric Nicksick heaps praise on challenger, T.J. Dillashaw ahead of UFC 280

Credited with some of the best footwork and angle creation in the sport and the bantamweight division as a whole, T.J. Dillashaw has been praised for his part in revolutionizing that aspect of mixed martial arts by Nicksick.

“I think when you change stances a lot, your defense suffers,” Nicksick said of T.J. Dillashaw. “I think guys like to switch stances because of what offense it brings out for them, but you get into a focus of purely offense. For me as a coach, if you’re switching stances, your defense suffers – then you shouldn’t be switching stances, because you’re going to get your ass knocked out.”

“… To me, I think T.J. does really well in his stance switch because his defensive soundness remains the same out of both orthodox and southpaw,” Nicksick explained.