UFC Des Moines: Bo Nickal makes weight after drastic 37-pound cut in one week

Bo Nickal’s much-anticipated showdown against former ONE Championship title holder Reinier De Ridder at UFC Des Moines has fans buzzing not just because of the high-stakes nature of the fight, but because of Nickal’s massive 37-pound weight cut in the span of just one week. The middleweight contender has never struggled with weight cuts before, but this time around, he’s been making waves for his daring pre-fight bulking tactics. With his opponent also weighing in at 185.5 pounds, the stage is set for a battle of endurance and skill as the two prepare to square off in the co-main event.

Bo Nickal arrived at the fighter hotel for UFC Des Moines and made weight without a hitch, tipping the scales at 185.5 pounds, which is the official middleweight limit. Both he and De Ridder, who weighed in at the same mark, made the cut look routine despite the tension surrounding the event. What had fans curious, though, was a video Nickal shared a few days before the weigh-in, where he appeared to tip the scales at 222.6 pounds. That suggested he was attempting to shed nearly 37 pounds in a single week—a daunting task by any standard.

While it sparked plenty of chatter, it’s likely the video was meant to be a promotional stunt. Nickal was seen wearing heavy clothing in the clip, and the actual weight on the scale wasn’t fully visible. Nevertheless, Nickal acknowledged the intense bulking process and the subsequent drastic weight cut, explaining that it was all part of his strategy to prepare for the challenge of this major fight.

In a conversation with MMAFighting, Nickal explained his bulking process leading up to the fight, stating, “A big part of my last camp these last few months has been to bulk up. I felt like that’s something that I wanted to focus on was getting my weight a little higher and making sure that I’m a full-size middleweight.” He continued, “It’s the biggest cut [for a fight] for sure... No worries… It was a little heavier than what I expected, and I was wearing a hoodie and stuff like that.”
Nickal emphasized that making weight is part of the job for him, given his extensive wrestling background. “I’ve weighed in hundreds of times since I’ve been at a young age,” he said. For the 27-year-old, cutting weight is second nature—even when it involves extreme measures.
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With the weigh-in behind him, Nickal now turns his attention to the fight of his life. As he faces De Ridder in a co-main event that promises fireworks, fans will be watching closely to see if Nickal’s rigorous weight cut impacts his performance. Regardless of the outcome, the middleweight contender’s commitment to the grind and his ability to manage such a drastic cut show just how serious he is about reaching the top of the UFC ladder.