Bo Nickal Expresses Frustration With Commentary, Criticism of UFC 309 Win

Bo Nickal is asked what he was thinking when he heard the crowd chant "Overrated".

Later, Nickal talks UFC 309 broadcast team criticism: It was a little disappointing to hear some of those comments from people I respect a lot.#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/HVQb90mXFe

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 18, 2024

Many fans and pundits were not impressed with Bo Nickal’s performance.

On the main card of UFC 309, Nickal (7-0) picked up a unanimous decision win over Paul Craig (17-9-1) in striking contest where the vaunted wrestler did not even attempt a single takedown. The lackluster back-and-forth did not thrill the audience or commentary team, drawing chants of “overrated” from those in attendance. The multiple-time NCAA Division I champ suggested in his post-fight interviews that he did not wish to put himself in danger of an unlikely submission from “Bearjew,” and ran a risk-adverse strategy he thought went well. Nickal, however, did not appreciate the commentary on his fight.

Although there was no doubt as to his victory, during the match, commentators pontificated whether he may be able to down a foe the caliber of Khamzat Chimaev. It marked the first time that the unbeaten middleweight had gone the distance after seven outings. Still early in a career that kicked off professionally in 2022, Nickal claims he received nothing but good feedback from those he trusts and relies on. Appearing on the Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Nickal pushed back on some of those criticisms aired in his direction.

“When I watched the fight back, something that was a little disappointing was the commentary, and just kinda hearing the way they were looking at the fight,” the Penn State wrestler noted. “To hear things like ‘DC’ [Daniel Cormier] say, ‘Oh, he’s not ready for Khamzat’…I think he was trying to be respectful, but also trying to like maybe set me down a peg. It was just weird to hear. But I just feel like that people that I know, that are in my corner, and would give me honest, genuine feedback, they’re very happy with the victory. I was very happy with the victory, so that’s what I really care about at the end of the day. But it was a little disappointing to hear some of those comments from people I respect a lot.”