TLDR
- Luke Rockhold criticized Bo Nickal ahead of RAF 5, saying he talks too much for someone who hasn’t accomplished enough in MMA
- Rockhold pointed to Nickal’s knockout loss against Reinier de Ridder as evidence that he quit mentally during the fight
- The tension escalated after Nickal suggested he deserved the RAF 5 main event over Rockhold and Colby Covington
- Nickal’s coach Mike Brown admitted his fighter was rushed into facing de Ridder too quickly in his UFC career
- Bo Nickal will face Yoel Romero at RAF 5 on January 10 while downplaying Rockhold’s criticism
Sources: Times of India | Bloody Elbow | Times of India
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold launched a harsh verbal attack on rising prospect Bo Nickal ahead of RAF 5 in Sunrise, Florida. The veteran fighter questioned Nickal’s fighting credentials and told him to quit the sport.
Rockhold delivered his criticism during an interview with MMA Junkie before the January 10 event. His comments focused on Nickal’s recent loss and what he sees as excessive confidence from someone with limited accomplishments.
Rockhold Questions Nickal’s Mental Toughness
The former champion pointed directly to Nickal’s knockout loss against Reinier de Ridder at UFC on ESPN 67 in May 2025. “He quit against RDR,” Rockhold said about the fight that ended Nickal’s undefeated record.
Rockhold claimed he could see Nickal breaking mentally before the fight-ending blow landed. “Before the knee even hit him, you can see the breaking in his mind,” he explained.
The criticism went deeper than just one loss. Rockhold distinguished between what he calls a competitor and a true fighter.
Colby and Rockhold ripping Bo Nickal to shreds 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1tsAb8HkOb
— Casual MMA (@CasualMMA) January 10, 2026
“You’re a competitor. You’re not a fighter,” Rockhold said. “I respect fighters, not competitors.”
Rockhold also took issue with Nickal’s tendency to speak confidently despite his limited resume. “You haven’t done anything, you haven’t beat anybody,” the veteran stated.
The tension between the two fighters increased after Nickal suggested he deserved to headline RAF 5 instead of Rockhold and Colby Covington. Rockhold responded by highlighting the difference in their accomplishments.
“The whole reason this sport is here, is on this stage, is because of us, and you haven’t touched anything,” Rockhold said. “You’re talking about two guys that have gotten gold.”
Rockhold dismissed Nickal’s collegiate wrestling achievements as irrelevant to MMA success. “What have you won? Anything other than college?” he asked. “Nothing matters until you’re on a world stage.”
He ended his comments with direct advice for the 29-year-old prospect. “Just shut up, bite the bullet and get to work, and become a man.”
Coach Admits Nickal Was Rushed
Nickal’s head coach Mike Brown from American Top Team acknowledged that his fighter moved up in competition too quickly. Brown told MMA Fighting that the de Ridder fight came too soon.
“He was moving a bit too fast,” Brown said. “We all knew it. He knew it. I knew it. We all knew it. Management knew it.”
Brown explained that financial pressures played a role in accepting tougher fights. “You’re not going to get the big bucks if you’re fighting guys on the prelims,” he said.
The coach admitted he would have preferred a different opponent for Nickal at that stage of his career. “It’s not a fight I necessarily wanted 100 percent,” Brown said about the de Ridder matchup.
De Ridder’s performance against other top middleweights proved he was a dangerous opponent. After beating Nickal, the Dutch fighter defeated former champion Robert Whittaker before losing to Brendan Allen.
Nickal bounced back from the loss at UFC 322, dominating Rodolfo Vieira before finishing him with a head kick knockout in the third round. The win earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
In response to Rockhold’s criticism, Nickal has downplayed the comments and maintained his focus on the upcoming fight. The three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion faces former UFC title challenger and Olympic medalist Yoel Romero at RAF 5.
Brown remains confident in Nickal’s future despite the setback. When asked if his fighter will become a UFC champion, Brown said, “Agreed, 100 percent. He’s a special athlete.”
Nickal enters the Romero fight with an 8-1 professional record, with his only loss coming in the de Ridder bout that sparked Rockhold’s criticism.
