'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
During a recent interview, UFC newcomer Bo Nickal expressed his interest in facing undefeated rising star Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight title sometime in the future.
The 26-year-old prodigy recently made a splash with his outstanding performances on Dana White's Contender Series, which rightfully earned him a contract into the UFC. While he's never competed inside the octagon, the American is being touted as the next big superstar. Many believe him to be a future champ.
When questioned on his opinion about the matchup, Bo Nickal admitted that Khamzat Chimaev would be a "dream fight" for him, later revealing his plans to face the Swede for the 185lb title down the line:
"Man, that's like a dream fight for me. I really want that fight. Obviously [Chimaev's a] tough dude, [with] great grappling, solid striking, so you know, that's like a fight I would just love to have for the belt at some point in the future, because I just feel like it would be one of the most hyped fights in the history of the UFC and exciting. He's a guy that brings it every time, and I'm a guy that [does] the same thing. When the lights are on and when the most pressure's on, I'm gonna perform the best."
Nickal is a standout wrestling product who is a multi-time gold medalist in the NCAA Division I National Championships, competing in a number of weight-classes.
The Penn State machine was previously scheduled to make his first appearance inside the octagon against Jamie Pickett later this year, but injury forced the UFC to reschedule for UFC 285 on March 4.
Check out what Bo Nickal had to say about a potential clash against Khamzat Chimaev in the video below.
How close is Khamzat Chimaev to a welterweight title shot?
Khamzat Chimaev was dubbed by many to be next in line for Kamaru Usman's welterweight title earlier this year, but after a number of events unfolded, the original plans were changed.
Leon Edwards scoring a huge head-kick knockout of 'The Nigerian Nightmare' hindered the entire division's plans. The long-serving 170lb champion will likely be granted an immediate rematch.
'Borz' finds himself arguably one win away from being next in line for a title shot, but that could have come sooner if he hadn't missed weight by such a large margin in his canceled bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 279.
