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Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo has offered his perspective on the future trajectory of Bo Nickal in the middleweight division, cautioning that the wrestling sensation still has a long road ahead before reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Nickal's foray into the UFC has garnered attention, with his recent victory over Cody Brundage at UFC 300 marking another step forward in his burgeoning career. However, despite his success, Nickal himself expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, acknowledging that he has room for improvement.
In a recent episode of his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with fellow UFC fighter Kamaru Usman, Cejudo shared his insights on Nickal's potential and the challenges that lie ahead.
"Don’t put that pressure on you, if you’re disappointed in your performance, because quite honestly, I do believe you could be a future champ at 185 pounds – but you are not ready for the top 10," Cejudo cautioned.
Cejudo emphasized the formidable competition within the middleweight division, highlighting fighters like Marvin Vettori and Paulo 'Borrachinha' Costa as formidable opponents. He stressed the importance for Nickal to gain experience and adapt to the demands of the weight class.
"I think at 185 pounds, he needs to go three rounds. He needs to understand that threshold because still him winning and beating these guys super early, if you want to be champion, how is it going to feel when you actually go five rounds against guys like Sean Strickland, Paulo 'Borrachinha,' Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier?" Cejudo remarked.
Acknowledging the depth of talent in the middleweight division, Cejudo advised Nickal to exercise patience and focus on honing his skills before aspiring to championship status.
"I think he needs to hold his horses. I think he’s still maybe 10 fights away from possibly becoming UFC champion," Cejudo concluded.