Chael Sonnen finds himself questioning the matchmaking choices for Bo Nickal’s upcoming bout. Nickal, with an impressive record of 5-0 in MMA and 2-0 in the UFC, is set to face Cody Brundage at the highly anticipated UFC 300 on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Expressing his surprise, Sonnen noted that Nickal is listed as a substantial -1450 favorite for the bout. In his recent YouTube commentary, Sonnen highlighted the historical significance of Nickal’s previous matchup odds, emphasizing the unparalleled 24-1 favorite status in his last contest, a record-setting line in UFC history.
At 27 years old, Nickal has had a brief but impressive career, with five fights under his belt. His longest bout lasted just over 2 minutes and 40 seconds, showcasing his quick thinking and killer instinct in the cage. As he gears up for UFC 300, Nickal finds himself as a 14-1 favorite, a significant but slightly reduced margin from his previous bout.
Sonnen drew attention to notable fighters like Khamzat Chimaev, Conor McGregor, and Brock Lesnar, who went to the top of the sport at a rapid rate. Given Nickal’s overwhelming favoritism once again, Sonnen raises the question of why the young talent isn’t receiving a similar fast-track treatment.
Chael Sonnen tries to understand:
Chael Sonnen Baffled at Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
“I’m just trying to understand. Is this a numbers situation? Do we need to get Bo X amount of fights before he goes in for a title, and do we need to get Bo X amount of fights before he goes into a top-five matchup? Do we need to get him X amount of fights before he goes into a rankings match?” Sonnen pondered.
Nickal’s inclusion in the historic UFC 300 pay-per-view event, which UFC CEO Dana White promised to be stacked from top to bottom, adds an extra layer of anticipation. While Nickal has previously opened the pay-per-view main card in his two UFC appearances, Sonnen wonders about the placement for UFC 300.
“If he’s not put on the main card, we’re going to have to look around and go, ‘What are we doing it for?’ Why would we do a squash match, according to the oddsmakers, with an undefeated star who’s 27 years young against Cody Brundage on an undercard?” Sonnen questioned.
As the MMA community eagerly awaits UFC 300, the discussion around Bo Nickal’s matchmaking and potential trajectory in the UFC continues to stir debate and intrigue. What do you make of the comments from Chael Sonnen? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
