Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest Odds for UFC Des Moines
Reinier de Ridder will try to pull a major upset against UFC rising star Bo Nickal tonight in Kansas City. Jason Radowitz analyzes this matchup in the main card, right before Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo. Nickal should win, but by what method? Check out this Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal prediction and best betting pick for UFC Des Moines.
Jason Radowitz - May 3, 2025, 6:05 PM EDT
5 minReinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest Odds for UFC Des Moines
Bo Nickal is rising up the ranks in the middleweight division. After a win over Paul Craig on November 16, 2024, Nickal is still undefeated since transitioning from NCAA wrestling to MMA.
Nickal is a three-time D1 wrestling champion who is now working his way up in the middleweight division to earn a championship in the UFC. It will take some years, but a win against Reinier de Ridder would certainly help his stock.
Meanwhile, de Ridder joined the UFC in 2024 and has won back-to-back bouts since transitioning from the ONE Championship. He submitted Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland, and will look to do the same against Nickal.
That said, de Ridder might be new to the UFC but not to MMA. He's already 34 years old, facing a 29-year-old up-and-coming star. It's why Nickal is still a massive favorite heading into this Fight Night matchup.
Can Nickal stand out with another win in Des Moines?
Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for the UFC Fight Night main card matchup between Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal.
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Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Odds
- Moneyline: de Ridder (+275), Nickal (-370)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Time: 10:00 PM ET (Main Card)
- Where to Watch: ESPN2
Click here for complete Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal odds
Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal Prediction
There's nobody in the UFC with more credentials than Bo Nickal. He's won three NCAA wrestling championships and is currently undefeated in the UFC. In addition, Nickal has won five of his seven bouts in the first round. He's mainly been able to take down his opponents and earn wins via submission or the ground-and-pound.
It makes sense that one of the best wrestlers in NCAA history is also good at wrestling in the octagon.
Beyond that, Nickal has improved his striking game. He even told the media that he's not just a wrestler anymore. He suggested he can be a striker now. Ultimately, if he can add that to his game moving forward, he could easily reach the top of the middleweight class.
On the other hand, he'll face de Ridder, who has won 11 of his 19 MMA fights by submission. De Ridder will be taller and have a longer reach than Nickal. He has also fought in five-round title fights, so it's hard to believe he will lose much stamina in this fight.
At the end of the day, Nickal needs to escape any submission trap from de Ridder. He'll want to control this fight and avoid any transitions on the ground.
Ultimately, Nickal is super wise in the octagon and should be able to avoid submission attempts from de Ridder. Therefore, I'll take Nickal to win by points at +220 odds.
Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickel Pick
- Pick: Bo Nickel By Points (+220) Click here to see complete UFC Des Moines Odds
MMA ODDS & PICKS
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