Who is the best wrestler ever in the UFC? The promotion has seen plenty of elite grapplers — from All-Americans to Olympians, and world-class wrestlers. However, 7-0 middleweight prospect Bo Nickal, an elite college wrestler himself, has a different answer.
Nickal, as they say, ‘knows ball’ when it comes to wrestling. However, amateur wrestling on the mat is very different from wrestling inside the octagon. That’s why Jon Jones, an NCAA-level wrestler, could lift two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier and throw him to the ground when the two crossed paths in the UFC.
And having been a part of both worlds, Nickal understands the distinction perfectly. So, during a Q&A on X, when one of his fans asked him to name the best wrestler in MMA, Nickal pointed to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Khamzat Chimaev.
All three champion fighters have wrestled as part of their martial arts journey at some point. But they were never elite traditional wrestlers on the mat. But inside the octagon, opponents found it hard to counter the tremendous control they exerted through grappling. Khabib’s career and domination is a classic example.
Khabib, Khamzat, Islam. https://t.co/vAfOZ4ZEYR
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) February 18, 2025
The Eagle never lost in his entire fighting career. There would probably be no one in the future who would go 29-0 and call it a day in their prime. And Khabib was renowned for his exceptional positional control, making him deceptively stronger than what his opponents anticipated. Dustin Poirier once described it perfectly.
Khabib’s understanding of weight distribution and balance was unparalleled, praised Poirier after their bout.
“He knew where my weight was, where it needed to be… He’s just so advanced,” Poirier had stated.
The second name in Nickal’s list, Khabib’s protégé, Makhachev, brings a dynamic approach to the octagon.
While he may not exhibit the same top-heavy dominance as his mentor, the UFC lightweight champion’s agility and relentless pursuit of submissions make him a formidable opponent. His ability to seamlessly transition between positions keeps adversaries perpetually on the defensive.
Then there is Chimaev, a different beast altogether when it comes to grappling inside the octagon. As effective as Khabib and Islam are, nobody makes the ground game look as visibly entertaining as Chimaev.
Training alongside Alexander Gustafsson and the Swedish national team, Chimaev developed a straightforward yet highly effective game plan. From the moment the fight begins, he closes the distance with lightning speed, often securing a takedown within seconds.
Once on the ground, Chimaev possesses the versatility to either submit his opponent or deliver punishing strikes. That strategy has been proven nearly unstoppable so far.
And Nickal recognizes Chimaev as the challenge of his career. The two have been fated to fight each other since signing their UFC contracts. They have been part of every fantasy fight situation. Batman vs. Superman, Darkseid vs Thanos, Captain America vs. Iron Man, and Khamzat Chimaev vs Bo Nickal… That is a dream matchup for many.
“My goal has always been to be… pound-for-pound number one… So when I call out guys like Khamzat, that’s because I think that he’s really good and I want to fight the best guys,” Nickal had said on a November 2024 episode of the Pound4Pound podcast.
Even though the two are currently separated by about 12 bouts in the UFC middleweight rankings, it is a fight many would like to see, none more so than veteran Chael Sonnen.
‘Check, check, check’, shouts Uncle Chael for Chamaev vs. Nickal
Nickal isn’t just talented — he’s confident. The undefeated wrestling phenom has made it clear that he expects to be a UFC champion someday. With his elite grappling and rapid rise, it’s assumed that the UFC will fast-track him up the rankings.
But there’s still a long road ahead. If Nickal were to be allowed to jump into hyperspace and skip the queue, he would need to challenge one of the top fighters and win.
And according to Sonnen, there is no better opponent than Chimaev for Nickal to announce his arrival.
“Chimaev’s undefeated, Bo’s undefeated. Chimaev’s good with the wrestling, Bo’s good with the wrestling. Chimaev’s got a bunch of fans, Bo’s an up-and-coming title contender—check, check, and check,” Sonnen said without taking a breath on a January episode of the Good Guy/Bad Guy.
But will the UFC comply? What if Nickal’s not ready for the Chimaev? Why would Dana White take one of his most promising fighters and literally throw him to the ‘Chechen wolf’? These questions are to be answered if there is any possibility of the fight happening in the near future.
